The Free will Baptist [serial]

DUKE UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2014

https://archive.org/details/freewillbaptists101free

January, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 1

Is Your Church Doomed to Die?

by Dr. Robert D. Dale

g "Death by Choice"; or "Out of Control": A Look at Suicide

by Dennis Smith

J Q Does It Pay to Visit?

The Youth Culture in the 80s

12 ls Your Church Listed?

by Gary Barefoot

DEPARTMENTS

13 Cragmont 23 Children's Home 38 Ministerial Association

14 Foreign Missions 30 Sunday School Convention 39 Editorial
17 Home Missions 32 Mount Olive College

19 Retirement Homes 36 News Briefs

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Is Your

Church

Doomed
To Die?

i

n C. S. Lewis' Fantasy
on Heaven and Hell,
The Great Divorce, a chilling
discovery is made. A thriving
congregation exists in Hell.
The church is busy. It makes
the same sounds and goes
through the same motions as if
it were spiritually healthy.
Organizationally, the con-
gregation in Hell is a going
concern. It just isn't going
anywhere near God's
kingdom. It's spiritually dead.
Doomed.

Is your church doomed to
die? I hope not. It doesn't have
to die, necessarily. Not if your
church commits itself to
spiritual health.

Imagine you're driving down
Church Street in your town or
in another familiar setting. As
you drive, read the signs in
front of a variety of church
buildings. Pay special atten-
tion to congregations with a
likelihood of spiritual disease,
churches on a so-called en-
dangered species list.

The list of unhealthy
churches which follows is ad-
mittedly overstated at points.
But let your imagination work
to help you relate these quietly
deteriorating congregations to
other churches you've known.
When you and I can recognize
diseased churches, then we
are better able to build
healthy ones.

(Turn the Page)
Ullllll

January 1986

Good Old Days Church

These congregations fear
they're past their prime. They
resist change. "Stop the world.
I want to get off ' is their mot-
to. The golden ages of yester-
day are preferred over the
uncertainties of today and
tomorrow. These churches
may forget there's no faith
possible when risks are im-
possible.

The church on the rural-
urban fringe also finds itself in
a double bind. The past was
simple. There was a defined
church field, an entrenched

power structure, and a simple
program. Now the character
of the church is being
challenged. Will we reach out
to the engulfing suburbs? Will
we adjust our ministries to
newcomer's needs? Can we
make room in the elected
structure for new leaders?

Stillborn Church

This church was probably
birthed out of hate or competi-
tion. One example of stillbirth
is the church begun as a result
of a split or schism.

The climate of a stillborn
church may remain negative
and make the congregation
clearer about what it's against
than what it's for. Two
neighboring pastors, leaders of
congregations split out of each
other, discovered a sure way
to motivate their members.
All they had to do was make a
comparison of their church to
the nearby "enemy" con-
gregation. A "Catch Calvary"
campaign or an "Eradicate
Emmanuel" effort was
guaranteed to ignite the old
rivalries.

A negative beginning for
congregations may tilt their
motivations and ministries in
negative directions for the
long term.

Family Chapel Church

The center aisle in a family
chapel serves as more than a
back-door- to- the-pulpit
passageway ; it divides the
house into opposing sides, into
"us" and "them." When the
family chapel is made up of
two extended clans, blood ties
may be thicker than Spirit.
Kinship may decide votes. Old
battles, some decades old,
may undermine the family
chapel's ministry.

Occasionally, the family
cemetery does more to insure
the congregation's existence
than anything else. If you

doubt how crucial the
cemetery is to some family
chapels, consider this experi-
ment. Announce two work
days, one a general spring
cleaning for the church
building and the other a
let's-get-the-cemetery-ready-
for-Memorial-Day effort.
Which work day would get the
most support?

Dip 'n' Drop Church

Some congregations ex-
perience boom growth. They
baptize lots of folks. But,
overall, the congregations
may grow very little. In these
churches, people are saved,
but they don't grow.

When instant maturity is ex-
pected to follow instant birth
automatically, immaturity
results. Any church with a dip
'em and drop 'em approach to
evangelism eventually suffers
from the liabilities of im-
maturity: childish fusses, ma-
joring on minor issues, suscep-
tibility to false doctrines, and
marginal appreciation for
ethics and applied Christiani-
ty-

When salvation is seen only
as a point in time rather than
a process through time, folks
are apt to be evangelized and
then not nurtured.

Doctrinal Specialty Church

Every congregation needs to
know what it believes and
practices. But when a church's
complete confession of faith
can be summed up literally on
its church sign, it isn't taking
advantage of the richness of
the gospel.

A balanced doctrinal diet
means all preaching and
teaching emphasis isn't
focused on one pet belief, even
if it's an important tenet of
faith. For example, if only the
Holy Spirit is stressed, where
are the Father and Son left?

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Going to seed on a favorite
doctrine creates a lopsideness
which makes balanced growth
difficult.

Serve-Us Church
Some congregations act as if
they exist for themselves
alone. They have the same at-
titude as the self-centered
prayer :

Bless me and my wife,
My son, John, and his wife,
We four,
No more !

Serve-us congregations have
a convenience store mentality;
they serve up fast faith like
fast food. Service, ministry
beyond the local membership,
is virtually ignored. The serve-
us church often keeps most of
its receipts inside the con-
gregation for members' use.
Missions and outreach aren't
stressed.

No Growth Church

This style congregation
takes some pride in stressing
fellowship to the virtual
neglect of evangelism. I was
recently asked to consider
leading an evangelism
workshop in a we-don't-grow
church. The pastor said,
"You'll have to talk about
'sharing' faith. 'Witnessing' is
too strong a word for our
church."

Some religious groups
assume an anti-evangelism
stance. One sect went so far as
to outlaw both evangelism and
marriage. After one genera-
tion they realized what's
always true for Christendom :
we're only one generation
away from extinction.

Widow Making Church

In the days of the sailing
ships, some vessels gained a
reputation as jinxed. After the
dangerous image of these
ships spread, crews became
almost impossible to find.

When the owners had received
their investment, the "widow
makers" were deliberately
wrecked. These ships were
viewed as too dangerous to
man.

Some congregations get the
reputation as widow makers
too. They fire or abuse pastor
after pastor. That's not to say
all pastoral firings are the
congregation's fault. But when
a church has fired four or five
consecutive pastors, isn't it a
widow maker?

Terrorist Tactics Church

Some congregations stay in-
timidated by terrorizing
members. Church terrorists
start rumors, are outspoken
debaters, and play politics.
These power brokers filter
every decision and create a
fuss whenever some action
they dislike is under con-
sideration.

Blackmail in its various
guises— money given to or
withheld from the church
budget, designating gifts to pet
projects, job security threat-
ened by community employers
who are also church leaders,
or neurotic needs for recogni-
tion or power— is a favorite
ploy of religious terrorists.

Power and decision making
in the church are important
issues. In a national deacon
training conference, I asked a
hundred deacons if their con-
gregations had deacon rotation
plans. Most did. A few
reported deacon rotation had
been resisted because some
deacons feared they'd lose
status. One man's answer
startled me. His statement
had overtones of terrorism :
"We don't rotate deacons. We
rotate pastors."

Superstar Church

This church revolves around
a central person, usually the

pastor. The direction of the
member's attention is so finely
focused that a personality cult
often results.

The superstar church may
be "on." On television. On the
freeway. On the I-visited-
there-on-last-summer's- va-
cation circuit. People may join
these congregations to draw
their identity from a distant
relationship with the
superstar.

The superstar church gets a
lot of denominational ink. It
provides a model for others to
imitate. Unfortunately, when
the superstar leaves, the
church may lose its momen-
tum. Does the superstar
assume so much spotlight and
responsibility that the
members may remain passive
and untrained?

Smorgasbord Church

Many churches attempt to |
provide something for
everyone. They try to be all
things to all persons, whether
they have the resources and
opportunities or not. These
churches play follow-the-
leader with their programs. If
another area church develops 1
a program, the Smorgasbord
Church feels duty bound to
begin that program too.
"Keeping up with the
Joneses" is the Smorgasbord
Church's style.

Congregations can adopt a
"franchised faith" approach.
That is, just like every Mc-
Donalds restaurant or Ford
dealership are essentially
alike, these churches are ob-
viously Baptist (or Methodist
or Presbyterian) franchises.

Two results are likely. First,
a one-size-fits-all attitude to
ministry will miss at least as
many folks as it reaches.
Second, trying to provide too
wide a range of programs may

(Turn the Page)
I

January 1986

5

stretch people's resources so
thinly that little is done well.

Bermuda Triangle Church

People disappear in the Ber-
muda Triangle, or so the
superstition claims. Some
church members disappear in-
to the innards of their con-
gregation never to be seen
again. They become inactive
church membership lists, but
their heart loyalties apparent-
ly lie elsewhere.

Many churches have an evi-
dent affinity to disappearances
into the Bermuda Triangle. In
Southern Baptist ranks, for in-
stance, more than one in every
four churchmen is considered
inactive. That's a lot of unin-
corporated or misplaced man-
power.

This problem covers the
whole spectrum from the
highly mobile military or
university church to the Old
First or changing neigh-
borhood congregation. When
new members aren't
assimilated and longtime
members aren't encouraged,
inactivity is a likely result. In-
actives can be counted for
bragging purposes, but they
can't be counted on for daily
ministry to others.

Our quick tour down Church
Street identifies some
unhealthy churches. These
congregations have at-
mospheres marked by nar-
rowness (family chapel,
stillborn, good old days,
dip 'n' drop, and doctrinal
speciality), self-interest
(serve-us and no growth), in-
timidation (widow maker and
terrorist tactics), and elitism
(superstar, smorgasbord, and
Bermuda triangle). Attitudes
of "only us" or "us first" or
"us-versus-them" or "us
above all others" crowds out
Christian concern for serving
others.

From Health to Disease

What are the specific con-
trasts between healthy and
unhealthy congregations? I've
developed a simple model to
picture the "health cycle" of a
church. This approach is
spelled out in my book, To
Dream Again (Broadman,
1981).

The health cycle moves, like
the human life cycle, from
birth to death. The model
looks like this:

Ministry

A predictable sequence con-
nects the stages.

• A dream gives birth to a
church.

• Beliefs, a doctrine agree-
ment for the congregation,
grow out of the dream.

• Church goals grow direct-
ly out of the shared dream and
beliefs.

• Structure organizes the
congregation for reaching its
goals and advancing its
dream.

• Ministry refers to the
variety of ways a church
reaches out, develops
members, and lives out its
dream in Christian love.

• Nostalgia describes a
longing for the days when the

dream was clear, focused, and
widely supported.

• Questioning is a point of
no return on the health cycle.
Either a church returns to its
dream and is revived by it, or
the congregation risks
spiritual and organizational
decline and perhaps death.

• Polarization is a tragic
sign of declining health. At
this stage church members
mistake each other for the
enemy. Destructive conflict is
common when polarization oc-
curs.

• Drop outs result from a
loss of the dream and ongoing
feuds within the church fami-
ly.

A church doesn't have to
move through the entire cycle
from health to disease. In fact,
the point of the health cycle is
to help congregations find out
where they are and revitalize
themselves by redefining
God's will for them as a cor-
porate body.

Churches aren't doomed to
die if they seek, find, and do
what God's kingdom requires
of them. Health, not disease, is
God's general intention for
congregations.

Healthy congregations plan
off their dream and live on the
up-side of the model. By con-
trast, deteriorating congrega-
tions are problem-solvers and
find themselves sliding down
the back side of the curve.

Marks of a
Healthy Church

Several marks describe the
healthy church. Here are eight
qualities characteristic of
church health.

• Healthy congregations
focus on a specific dream of
their ministry. Effective
groups use a mutual vision to
glue them together. In
churches, the dream centers
on redemption. After all,

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

salvation is the one-word sum-
mary of the Bible.

The fundamental dream, for
me, centers on Jesus'
preaching of the Kingdom of
God. He spoke of it and its
redemptive power more often
than any other issue in His
ministry. To be like Jesus,
then, means to take God's
kingdom seriously. And the
Kingdom of God is as basic
and applicable for congrega-
tions as it is for individual
Christians.

Since every local congrega-
tion has a unique personality,
all churches don't look or act
exactly alike. Their dreams,
while similar in general ways,
take on specific, personalized
qualities as the dream is lived
out in their local settings. The
important issue is : can your
church answer directly when
asked, "What does God want
from our church here and
now?" The congregation needs
to respond to this question as a
group.

In other words, the answer
given by the pastor or a small
cluster of members isn't
necessarily a dream for that
congregation.

• Healthy congregations
develop a doctrinal agreement
around their dream.
Theological consensus pro-
vides a solid foundation for
ministry.

My guess is that Baptist
churches sing their theology
more than they talk about it. A
clue to congregational belief is
the hymns and songs sung
repeatedly, with feeling, and
largely from memory. More
than doctrinal debate or Bible
verses quoted, the natural and
enjoyable sharing of musical
praise provides a corporate
consensus about theology for
many congregations.

• Healthy congregations
are goal-oriented. Church

goals furnish a method for im-
plementing their dream.

Good goals grow out of the
dreaming, talking, listening,
and decision-making processes
of a congregation. Broad par-
ticipation in goal-setting is
essential for one practical
reason: folks work for the
goals they help shape.

• Healthy congregations
organize themselves to carry
out their dream. Organiza-
tional structure supplies the
muscle and sinew for ac-
tivating the dream.

Baptists have a mission vi-
sion, so we've organized mis-
sion boards. As a denomina-
tion, we've stressed the Bible
and structured our churches
into all-age Sunday Schools to
teach the Bible. If your church
has organizational units sup-
porting no portion of your
dream, your congregation is
overorganized. Your church is
underorganized if it has
aspects of its dream which are
unsupported by organizational
structure.

• Healthy congregations
live out their dream in active
ministry. Ministry is the proof
of the dream. Ministry links
hearing and doing: it incar-
nates our vision into enacted
faith. A balanced mix of
dreamers and doers are
needed to make a congrega-
tion both visionary and active.

• Healthy congregations
use nostalgia as an early
warning signal. An overt long-
ing for the Golden Age of the
past is a reminder that the
congregation is losing touch
with its dream. Nostalgia tells
church leaders it's time to
renew the dream.

• Healthy congregations
fight fair. The only place
without conflict is the
cemetery. Otherwise, groups
with ideas, vitality, and goals
experience conflict from time
to time.

Healthy churches find con-
structive ways to deal with
their differences. They stay
up-to-date with their
disagreements and deal with
them before they grow out of
proportion. They look for solu-
tions which advance the
dream.

Dissenters are valued in
healthy churches. In fact,
diversity is necessary
koinonia, or fellowship. The
New Testament Church was
made up of a wide range of
folks— Jews and Greeks, free
and slave, male and female,
young and old. Diversity
makes for disagreement;
disagreement makes for better
goals and a sharper dream— if
conflict is constructively chan-
neled.

• Healthy congregations
periodically redream their
dream and plan off of it.
Organizations age and drift
away from their dream as
time passes.

Periodically, it's essential
for congregations to redefine
their dream. Planning, based
on their redemptive vision,
turns dreams into deeds.
Dreaming provides the
biblical vision of the Kingdom
of God for a church; planning
is the organizational health
skill which puts hands and feet
to the dream.

Doom or Dream

No church is forced to face
its death passively. It can
define its kingdom dream
rather than die. The road to
church health is to dream
again. Christ's kingdom hasn't
changed. Our churches have
only to dream it again.

Dr. Robert D. Dale is professor of
pastoral leadership and church
ministries at Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
North Carolina. This article is adapted
from his book To Dream Again.

January 1986

7

"DEATH BY CHOICE"; OR
"OUT OF CONTROL"
A Look at Suicide

by Dennis Smith

Did you know that the holiday season
is the worst time of the year for many
people? While others are enjoying a
joyous spirit, many are questioning why
they are even alive. The depression that
many feel and experience, especially
during this time of year, is one that
should not be dismissed because the
results of doing so are often quite
devastating.

The following article on suicide
should help us realize that many who
threaten are not just crying, "Wolf!" May
it spur us on to greater heights of com-
passion and knowledge.— Editor

Most of us do not like to hear
the word. We usually ignore it.
However, suicide is a real oc-
currence in our society today.
The statistics are staggering as
we also hear of "suicide pacts"
and "agreements" by small
groups of individuals. We as in-
dividuals and as a church can-
not ignore suicide. We must
face the issue head-on by learn-
ing more about it. Why do peo-
ple take their lives? What are
the warning signs, and how can
suicide be prevented?

WHY?

We may never know why a
person takes his own life. One
reason why we may never know
is because no one is exempt
from suicide. Sometimes it is
the person whom we least ex-
pect. This "disease" or
"sickness" has no boundaries.

People who commit suicide
have a reason to do so. There
are certain factors behind the
reason which push it to the sur-
face. The first factor is usually
stress. A mild crisis can quick-
ly escalate to a major crisis for
the person unable to cope. Paul
Pretzel, in the book Under-
standing and Counseling the
Suicidal Person, states that
suicide usually represents a
person's way out of a situation
of painful stress with which he
is unable to cope.

The next question is why are
people unable to cope? There
are several considerations
here. Mental illness is certainly
an element. People seem to just
"snap" or "break" for no ap-

parent reason. Mental illness is
another subject that many
refuse to discuss, but mental
illness needs to be addressed
and studied by the Christian
community. Affiliations with
local mental health associa-
tions would be a great way to
start.

Financial difficulties can
drive people to suicide. People
may also commit suicide in
order for their families to col-
lect insurance money.
(However, many companies do
not pay off in such cir-
cumstances. ) The suicidal may
see this as an end to his
family's financial problems;
however, he may not recognize
the other problems his family
will face after his death.

Sin is certainly a major fac-
tor in some suicides. People
sometimes get involved in sin-
ful acts such as adultery, gam-
bling or blackmail, are found
out, and see no other way out.
We see a most vivid example

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

in Matthew 27 : 5 as Judas hung
himself after betraying Jesus.

Suicide has many causes
which are too numerous to
mention. But we do have hope.
There are warning signs for
which we can learn to be
watchful.

Warning Signs

Most people go downhill for
long periods before they are ac-
tually in a crisis situation. A
great many suicidals actually
want to be rescued from their
peril. We see this evidenced by
the great number of failed
suicidal attempts. About
seventy-five percent of all
suicidals give advance warn-
ings of their intentions, ac-
cording to The Suicide Informa-
tion Center.

The S.I.C. defines four types
of danger signals.

1. Suicidogenic Situations:
This situation itself is condu-
cive to suicidal thoughts and
feelings. For example, a
woman who has always taken
great pride in her physical ap-
pearance is suddenly told she
must have a disfiguring opera-
tion. Or an extremely happy
marriage is ended suddenly by
the unexpected death of a
spouse.

2. Depressive Symptoms:
Some include insomnia, lack of
concentration, loss of appetite
and weight, no desire to
socialize, withdrawal, poor per-
sonal hygiene, feelings of
defeatedness, dwelling on
problems, appearing sad, and
living in the past.

3. Verbal Warnings: Myth:
People who talk about killing
themselves will not do it!
Eighty percent of all those who
actually give verbal warnings
do in fact commit suicide.
Treat all verbal warnings
seriously.

4. Behavioral Warnings :
These include: giving away a

prized possession, an actual at-
tempted suicide, organizing
business and personal matters
as if one were going on a trip,
planning one's funeral, or sud-
denly resigning from clubs and
organizations.

A suicidal person will usually
give more than one warning
signal if he gives advance
warning. There may be no need
for panic if only one signal is
observed. Recognizing the
signs and taking appropriate
action may save the life of a
friend or loved one.

Suicide Prevention

Statistics reveal that one-half
to three-fourths of all suicides
can be prevented (Bill
Blackburn, What You Should
Know About Suicide, Word
Books, 1982, p. 35). We need to
realize that reasons or causes
do exist for suicidal behavior
and learn to recognize and deal
with them. Many needless
deaths can be averted when the
key people close to the potential
victim are able to recognize the
signs and respond in a suppor-
tive and helpful manner.

Most of us are not
psychologists or counselors,
but there are things we can do
to combat suicide. The experi-
enced counselor knows how to
handle the suicidal situation.
The unexperienced counselor
upon recognizing the warning
signals can try to talk with the
person and get things out in the
open. However, the layman
must be very cautious and seek
professional help when the
situation is beyond his scope of
ability.

Some people may recognize
signs but be unable to confront
the person. When this happens,
the pastor or another compe-
tent individual should be
notified. The important thing is
to respond in some way. Talk to
the person or find someone else

to do so. Learn the signs of
suicide; they may help save a
life.

The Role of the Church

Education is the key role the
church can play in suicide
prevention. We can provide
seminars on suicide for all age
groups. The Sunday School can
provide a special elective class
series dealing with the various
aspects of suicide. A special
program can be shared on
Wednesday night.

The church should also pro-
vide a support group for the
suicidal person. Love, care,
and concern are good medica-
tions. We can provide en-
couragement and hope for
those who seem to be without
hope.

The church can also provide
support, hope, and encourage-
ment to the bereaved in the
event suicide does occur. The
impact after a suicide is
devastating, and God's people
can help soften the blow.

Resources

A wealth of educational
material is available dealing
with suicide. Contact your local
mental health center, library,
physician, or hospital. The
Suicide Information Center has
available a "Training Work-
shop Outline" for $5. Write
to 6377 Lake Apopka Place, San
Diego, CA 92119. Bill
Blackburn's book, mentioned
earlier, is an excellent resource
to have on hand. Materials are
available. Churches should ob-
tain resources and make them
available to all members.

Suicide should not be written
off or taken lightly. People do
kill themselves, but we as in-
dividuals and a church can
help. Involvement, education,
and love should be our
catalysts.

January 1986

9

/

DOES IT REALLY PAY TO VISIT?

The two Christian women approached the
house with a great deal of apprehension. They
had been two times before and been met with a
great deal of hostility. The woman living there
had told them rather bluntly that she knew
where the church was if she needed it. When she
was ready to go, she knew the way.

But on this third visit, the Lord intervened
and she and her family were in church the follow-
ing Sunday. The whole family became quite ac-
tive in the program of that local congregation.

Does it pay to visit?

The family was facing a really difficult time.
The visit those Christians made that day helped
to lift spirits. The time they spent with that fami-
ly helped them see that they were not facing the
world alone, that others cared about them and
their needs.

Does it pay to visit?

Several children came to church because
someone invited them. While the visiting church
members visited in their home, the mother told
how they had been attending another church but
had not been there for some months because of
illness and work schedules. During that time not
one person had even called on the phone to say,
"We missed you." Today they are attending
another church regularly— because someone
cared enough to visit.

Does it pay to visit?

"This is almost unbelievable, but I'm glad
you came by. I've visited in several churches
since moving to town, but yours is the only one to
visit me," a young woman told a group of Chris-
tians visiting her one evening.

Does it pay to visit?

While I would like to say that your visits will
make all the difference in the world, I cannot do
so honestly. There will be times of rebuff and
abuse; you will not always find that you are
welcomed or that people are completely honest
with you. But time given in service to the Lord is
never wasted. We may never know how our visit
affects a family or an individual. We have to
leave that to God— and He is always faithful.

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Jr

THE YOUTH CULTURE IN THE 80s

Adapted from a speech by Jay Kesler, given at the Billy Graham
School of Evangelism

Over the last five years, an interesting
change has taken place in our nation's
public schools. Many of today's student
leaders— class presidents, captains of football
teams, valedictorians— are outspoken Christians.

There are a couple of explanations for this!
It may be that young people have Christian
parents encouraging them and help them set
goals. These youth just naturally rise to the top,
like cream in a milk jar.

This change may also be due to the increas-
ing secularization of our culture. As society
becomes more and more secular, Christian
students simply stand out in stark contrast to
the rest. I tend to believe that the truth lies
somewhere between these two ideas.

But we must not let this euphoria fool us.
My analysis is this: The top 15 percent of the
achievers in America are disproportionately
Christian. Taking into consideration those
students in the middle, the lower 40 percent are
less Christian than any generation in American
history.

The late philosopher-theologian Francis
Schaeffer once said that America was living on
Christian memory. He made that statement
around 25 years ago. We must realize, then, that
this lower 40 percent of America's youth aren't
even living on the Christian memory. While their
parents may have the memory, they have lost it.

With this in mind, what are some of the
realities facing us as we seek to reach out to the
youth culture?

First, young people have shifted their think-
ing from naturalism to supernaturalism. Unlike
youth of the past, today's youth do not believe

you can account for human existence through
science and reason. This supernaturalism takes
many forms: Eastern religion, meditation, the oc-
cult.

Along with supernaturalism is narcissism or
"Me-ism." Young people live in a world that has
taught them instant self-gratification. Commit-
ment to almost anything is to be avoided,
because it means hard work and struggle.

Another trait of today's youth is growing
apathy. To better understand this, we must look
at the youth culture of the '60s. Those young ac-
tivists tried to change the world's formidable
problems. Of course, they couldn't do it. Seeing
past failures, today's youth turned hard, cynical,
and dropped out of mainstream culture. It's not
that they don't know or care about the world's
problems; tragically, they feel they don't matter.

Another startling observation is the current
attitude toward authority figures. Young people
today seem readier to follow a strong personali-
ty. In fact, I think the climate among today's
youth is dangerously close to the climate in Ger-
many in 1932. If the right guru came along and
promised the right mixture of God, country and
materialism, we might all be surprised by what
would happen in this country.

Finally, love and sentimentality are con-
fused. In the wake of the sexual revolution,
young people tragically believe that love and sex
are synonymous.

We must face the current reality. And with
guidance from the Holy Spirit, we must shape
strategies and ministries to reach the youth of
the '80s.

January 1986

11

IS YOUR
CHURCH LISTED?

by Gary Barefoot

In 1972, the Historical Com-
mission and the Executive
Committee of the North
Carolina State Convention of
Original Free Will Baptists pur-
chased microfilming equip-
ment to be housed in the Free
Will Baptist Historical Collec-
tion of the library at Mount
Olive College. The primary
purpose of this equipment pur-
chase was to provide a means
whereby historical records of
the denomination, especially
individual church records,
could be preserved for the
future.

Other denominations have
long been involved in
systematic preservation of
their history through this and
other means. Free Will Bap-
tists have too great a heritage
to neglect its preservation. To
date the following churches
have had their records (or
parts of them) microfilmed. Is
your church listed?

The microfilming service is
free and in no way damages the
records. Churches desiring to
have their records microfilmed
should contact Gary Barefoot,
Librarian, Mount Olive Col-
lege, Mount Olive, NC 28365
(telephone 919-658-2502).

Beaverdam (Columbus Co.), 1921-1977
Bethany (Pitt Co.), 1919-1975
Black Jack (Pitt Co.), 1894-1974

Christian Chapel (Lenoir Co.), 1872-1954
Concord Chapel (Beaufort Co.),

1849-1912
Core Creek (Craven Co.), 1910-1977
Davis (Carteret Co.), 1907-1975
Deep Run (Lenoir Co.), 1903-1960
Dublin Grove (Beaufort Co.), 1907-1960
Elm Grove (Pitt Co.), 1923-1981
Free Union (Greene Co.), 1843-1962

(1937-1944 missing)
Friendship (Johnston Co.), 1916-1985

(pt.)

Gethsemane (Craven Co.), 1916-1984
Grant's Chapel (Wayne Co.), 1897-1974
Gray Branch (Lenoir Co.), 1940-1976
Grimsley (Greene Co.), 1892-1955
Gum Swamp (Pitt Co.), 1882-1969
Hickory Chapel (Hertford Co.), 1878-1969

(pt. 1878-1906 missing)
Hickory Grove (Jackson Co., Fla.), 1879-

1979

Hillsberry (Sampson Co.), 1963-1973
Hopewell (Johnston Co.), 1898-1978

(1902-1909 missing)
Johnston Union (Johnston Co.), 1909-

1965

Juniper Chapel (Craven Co.), 1909-1975
(1909-1925 incomplete; 1926-1938
missing)

Lee's Chapel (Sampson Co.), 1892-1970
Little Creek (Greene Co.), 1903-1955
Marsh Swamp (Wilson Co.), 1922-1974
Mount Ariel (Horrey Co, SC), 1896-1970
Mount Zion (Onslow Co.), 1928-1968
Mount Zion (Pamlico Co.), 1920-1976
New Haven (St. Luke's, Craven Co.),

1922-1975
Northeast (Wayne Co.), 1928-1976
Oak Grove (Bladen Co.), 1938-1979
Oriental (Pamlico Co.), 1902-1975 (1902-

1933 incomplete; 1934-1950 missing)
Owens Chapel (Walston Chapel, Wilson

Co.), 1919-1930
Piney Grove (Duplin Co.), 1925-1941
Plymouth, First (Wash. Co.), 1953-1978
Rains Cross Roads (Johnston Co.), 1925-

1974

Robert's Grove (Sampson Co.),
1896-1944

Rocky Mount, First (Edgecombe Co.),
1933-1980

Rose of Sharon (Martin Co.), 1906-
1975

St. Mary's (Craven Co.), 1918-1981
St. Mary's Grove (Johnston Co.), 1926-
1985 (pt.)

Sandy Grove (Robeson Co.), 1951-1979

(Incomplete)
Sandy Plains (Duplin Co.), 1880-1979
Sarecta (Duplin Co.), 1973-1975
Sidney (Beaufort Co.), 1904-1973 (1946-

1953 missing)
Smith's New Home (Lenoir Co.), 1895-

1972

Spring Hill (Wayne Co.), 1905-1967

(1936-1953 missing)
Stoney Creek (Wayne Co.), 1908-1980
Tee's Chapel (Johnston Co.), 1901-1975

(early years incomplete)
West Hillsboro (Orange Co.), 1953-1971
Whaley's Chapel (Jones Co.), 1911-1975
Winterville (Pitt Co.), 1905-1983

The Historical Collection has
purchased the following church
records on microfilm from Ar-
chives and History in Raleigh
and these are available also as
a part of the microfilm collec-
tion.

Howell Swamp (Greene Co.), 1896-1966
Shady Grove (Sampson Co.), 1859-1954
Spring Branch (Greene Co.), 1930-1966

DON'T BLAME GOD

The liquor industry has been
reaping some bad press
lately— and it is deserving of
every word of condemnation
that has come its way. After the
alcohol-related death of an ac-
tress, one of her long-time
friends said, "It can't be a lov-
ing God to do this . . .it's just
not fair."

Many have rebutted this
friend— and the rebuttals will
continue. One Salisbury, North
Carolina, minister answered
with an appropriate reply:
"Families will be grief-stricken
and Christmas will be filled
with sorrow. It will not be God
spoiling Christmas. We will be
the ones guilty."

May his words stir us. God
should not be blamed for our
poor judgment!

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CRAGMONTI

the

cragmont
club

For 1986, we have set a new goal for gaining
new Cragmont Club members. That goal is 100
new members. The Cragmont Club has been
responsible for approximately $55,000 in revenue
and has seemed to level at around $18,000 per
year. The Cragmont Club is our only "trust"
fund. It is not a trust fund in that we have
deposited any of the funds in a trust account. It is
a trust fund based on faith in those loyal, suppor-
tive individuals who believe in the ministry of
Cragmont to actively support us financially. As
club members you receive no plaque, no cer-
tificate and no special public recognition. You do
get the opportunity to be our house guest, you get
a satisfied feeling from knowing that you are
contributing to a worthwhile purpose and you get
our sincere thanks. If we get the 100 new
members this year, we will have gained $12,000
in extra revenue. Along with the 233 members we
now have, we will take in from club members
alone somewhere around $40,000 for the year. So
think about it; better yet JOIN. Here's how:

WHAT IS THE CRAGMONT CLUB?

• A group of interested and committed sup-

porters of Cragmont Assembly.

PURPOSE

• To create a feeling of ownership at the
church member level.

• To bring the outstanding debt on the Main

Building to a swift retirement.

• To create a cash flow with regularity.

BENEFITS

• You will be a partner in the Cragmont
ministry.

• Your family will receive certain cost re-
ductions while visiting Cragmont.

PLANS

• $10/month— Free Room and meals for im-
mediate family for two days and
nights/year.

• We do have a senior citizen plan. If in-
terested please let us know.

• Cost reductions may not be used by partici-

pants of regularly scheduled conferences.

HOW DO I JOIN?

• Please fill in the form found below.

• Send your check to:

Cragmont Assembly
1233 North Fork Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
Phone 704-669-7677

Name.

Address^

z,p_

I Please give complete address.
* *-<

EVENTS FOR 1986 AT CRAGMONT

January through February, Snow Skiing for $75
per person and we still have some weekends
left!

April 18-20, Morning Star, Women's Mini Confer-
ence

May 16-18, College Weekend Retreat
May 19-22, General Baptist Ministers' Confer-
ence

June 2-5, Spring Limited Edition

WEEKS OF CONFERENCES
AND THEIR SPONSORS

June 16-21, General Youth Conference, State
Sunday School Convention

June 23-28, Christian Cadet Conference, State
League Convention

June 30— July 5, Youth Frontier YFA, Woman's
Auxiliary Convention

July 7-12, Youth Frontier AFC, Woman's Auxil-
iary Convention

July 15-19, General Youth Conference II, State
Sunday School Convention

July 22-26, Ministers' Conference, North Caro-
lina Free Will Baptist Ministerial Associa-
tion

July 28— August 2, Young People's Bible Confer-
ence, Carteret County Sunday School Con-
vention

August 4-9, Woman's Auxiliary Conference,

Woman's Auxiliary Convention
August 11-16, Woman's Auxiliary Conference,

Woman's Auxiliary Convention
October 13-16, Autumn Limited Edition
October 24-26, Cragmont Club Weekend Retreat

January 1986

13

FOREIGN MISSIONS

■

WORLD MISSIONS CONFERENCE

March 7, 1986
College Hall, Mount Olive College

Sponsored by the Board of Foreign Missions

Morning Session, 10-12:00 A.M.
Afternoon Session, 1- 4:00 P.M.
Mission Rally, 7:30 P.M.

CONFERENCE SPEAKER: DAVID BRYANT

Enrich your prayer life by attending this conference. I am convinced that this is one of
the most important meetings ever held among Free Will Baptists. Please attend!

This conference is not just for everyone else; this conference is for you! !

David Bryant serves na-
tionally as Missions Specialist
with Inter- Varsity Christian
Fellowship, USA. He has pro-
moted biblical vision and prac-
tical strategies to thousands of
students and lay people across
the country through his World
Christian Conferences and Con-
certs of Prayer Seminars.

Bryant has been a delegate to
a number of international con-
sultations on world evangeliza-
tion, and was a speaker at the
International Prayer Assembly
for World Evangelization in
Seoul, Korea, in 1984.

He has authored two popular
books: In the Gap: What It
Means to Be a World Christian
and With Concerts of Prayer:

Christians Join for Spiritual
Awakening and World Evan-
gelization (both Regal books).
As Executive Producer for

World Christian Video (Gospel
Light Video), he has developed
a unique multi-series training
curriculum in use by churches
and campuses. He serves on the
National Prayer Committee
and is a member of the In-
tercessory Advisory Group for
the world-wide network of the
Lausanne Committee on World
Evangelism. He serves in the
latter capacity as International
Prayer Coordinator, serving
urban and national prayer
movements world-wide.

Bryant holds advanced
degrees in both biblical studies
and cross-cultural communica-
tions. He and his wife, Robyne,
have a young son and daughter.

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS!

FOREIGN MISSIONS TELETHON 1986

by Harold Jones

Foreign Missions Telethon 1986 is only three months away.
Telethon Sunday will be March 23. Last year 122 churches and 29 in-
dividuals called in on Telethon Sunday. / challenge every church
(there are at least 275) and individual to participate this year. We
need the support of every Free Will Baptist in order to make our
world outreach program what it ought to be. Our greatest respon-
sibility as a church is to make Christ known to all the world.
Without the backing of all our churches our Foreign Missions pro-
gram will never reach its full potential. What you do does make a
difference. Let's make it 100% participation in the 1986 Telethon.

PRAYER MOBILIZATION
FOR WORLD CHANGERS

It's time for us Free Will Bap-
tists to mobilize our forces in
consecrated prayer if we are
going to be world changers. We
are engaged in spiritual war-
fare. "For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in
high places" (Ephesians 6:12).

P. J. Johnstone in his book
Operation World writes,

"There is a war in the spiritual
realm, but it is a war already
won by the Lord Jesus on
Calvary. This victory is only
applied to the present world
need as we perseveringly and
believingly pray. As we pray,
we stand on victory ground,
and can shout the hallelujah of
victory over whatever seeming
setbacks and trials come upon
the work of God . . . Prayer is a
mystery. God is all-powerful,
yet He desires our prayers to

accomplish His work in the
world. A prayer inspired by the
Holy Spirit has a part in form-
ing the eternal decrees of God.
Prayer unites puny man to
Almighty God in a miraculous
partnership. Prayer moves the
Hand that made and upholds
the universe. It is the most no-
ble and most essential ministry
God gives to His children— but
is the most neglected. May God
make us real intercessors as we
turn to the world in its great
need."

I earnestly plead with you to
look at the seriousness of the
task the Lord has given us in
world outreach and commit
yourself to be a daily prayer
warrior.

Please pray for the following
over the next three months:

Prayer Items:

A. World Missions Conference-

March 7

1. Pray for the speaker, David

Bryant.

2. Pray for every pastor to

attend.

3. Pray for a good representa-

tion of lay people to at-
tend from each church.

4. Pray for good weather.

B. Telethon Sunday, March 23

1. Pray for 100% participation

of our churches.

2. Pray for funds to send new

missionaries and expand
our fields.

3. Pray for the greatest
Telethon ever.

C. Day of Prayer for World Mis-
sions, March 23

1. Pray for a new awakening

in our churches.

2. Pray for yourself that God

would burden your heart
to be a prayer warrior.

3. Pray for all our people that

everyone will accept the
challenge of daily prayer
for world missions.

Thank you for your
faithfulness. I believe the Mis-
sions Conference, Telethon,
and Day of Prayer will be the
greatest we have ever had
because you prayed.

January 1986

15

Philippines
Two by Two

By Willem van der Plas

A policy of Jesus our Lord for
our third-year students (Mark
6:7-13): The executive commit-
tee has sent them out two by
two, equipped with the prom-
ised providence of God, a Bi-
ble, tracts, evangelistic study
material, food and traveling
allowance, and a letter for the
Barangay Captain. A Barangay
Captain is a community leader,
who is elected by the popula-
tion, more or less comparable
with the mayor in the U.S.A.
The Barangay Captain usually
gives support and protection to
all religious groups, and he is
the host for foreigners.

Advice from the executive
committee members to the
"work-students": "When you
come to the place of your
destination, pray first." They
had no assurance of a house
and no organized place to stay
and spend the night. They had
no other means than the public
transport as far as it reaches;
two men had to walk more than
20 km. over muddy roads to
reach Calawag.

Eight pastor-students and
two Biblewomen-students, all
enrolled in the new B.B.E. pro-
gram—went out completely
depending on the providence of
their Lord, whose servants they
want to be. On Saturday, June
29, they left for the first time.
While we were out shopping
early that morning, Lydia and I
met some of them near the City
market place, waiting on
transport.

All of us, staff members,
students, church members,
church officers, pastors —
everybody— were concerned
about those who went out in
such different ways. We all
have been praying continuously
and sincerely, in unity of

■■ FOREIGN MISSIONS WM

spirit. Every one looks for-
ward to their return, to hear
their stories about the blessings
which they received, the people
who give them room to live in,
people who want Bible studies
in their houses, people who
want to worship. It brings us to
our knees for thanksgiving and
praise.

Two couples returned wor-
ried and somewhat dissap-
pointed, for they went to places
where it is not so easy and less
fruitful. Inagawan is the most
difficult of these locations.

The pastors Roberto Aguilar
and Neri Peralta try hard to
share their message with the
people who are barely respond-
ing. Some other evangelizing
groups have been working
there before, but they had to
give up. Do we have to give up
also?

The pastors are more or less
welcome in three family
homes. As they say, even in the
houses of those people they still
find the attributes of unbelief.
For the young, ambitious and
intelligent Neri Peralta it is dif-
ficult to sit down and wait for
miracles.

People invite them to come
back yet when they return the
same people have their
children tell them that they are
not at home. One man who ac-
cepted Christ allowed them to
return, but after four weeks of
hard effort they had to give up
trying to meet the man again.
Let us join them with our care,
our love and prayers, so that
they receive perseverence and
the assurance of our Lord:
"Yes, I am with you, you are
part of my Kingdom."

MEXICO

Brother Escobar baptizing converts in Mexico.
(Excerpts from a letter from Bro. Antonio Escobar)

Brother, I thank God for the work He has advanced here and at
this time. The Lord has blessed our churches and missions and I
hope and pray that this progress and growth should remain in all
our churches. Let us unite in prayer for this work.

I have received all of the Sunday School material. I have shown
it to all the pastors, and it has been good working with it in our
churches.

In reference to our study program from Logoi, we are going
forward, and the program has given us much hope and has
strengthened our convictions as pastors and has certainly bettered
the work in the churches.

In October, we had baptismal services in Piedras Negras.

16

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOME MISSIONS

\0

\95

x\^e

8\\

X\e^v

X©^

< 0©°9 «\X

\X \s

*+t l\ *0 *e «^»» *

xX^eS

January 1986

17

HOME MISSIONS

of

„">e,0n'""%,7e'"erf

Wa »a

C/7

a?e

*o hi
0ftr.

are

ey
ln 7/>e,

«0

IV///

^an

if

af

r**rt u,u.Ur'n

en

Of

the

"Of

the

'e/y

'ar

hirn /o

f,tyel*,thth9tf>eZ'°('9*fh

is

en

Chr^^'th

to

a/7

to

J9h

the

aiv,

'n9 J T^e aj

0fyoUr

yoUr

"<3-

itr..7' the

Us

*rtSor

18

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

RETIREMENT HOMESi

RETIREMENT HOMES,
WHAT ARE THEY?

by Mrs. Rose Bowen

Believe it or not, because of bad health and
not being able to attend the meetings that we had
always loved to attend, Mr. Bowen and I knew
very little about our Retirement Homes pro-
gram. We believed it must be a new program
that would prove its worth as our other programs
had progressed. However, I feel that there are
many Free Will Baptists that did not know and
still do not know what it is all about.

Right here, I am going to do something that
Mr. Bowen always corrected me on and asked
me not to do. I am going to digress and tell you
why Free Will Baptists need this wonderful part
of our denomination. When most older ministers
came into our group as young ministers, there
was no program of Superannuation that would
benefit them. We joined the Free Will Baptist
Church during the depression. Those in the cities
began to lose their jobs. Well, we felt lucky
because the North Carolina League Convention
elected us to the position of Field Secretaries and
challenged us to travel the state of North
Carolina to teach and organize Leagues. We
were supposed to be paid the big sum of fifteen
dollars a week. Some weeks we drew nothing,
some three dollars, and I will not go into all the
things that really happened. Mr. Bowen had
planned to write a book if he was ever able to
retire. Of course, he didn't get to. Then we left
this work and went back to school. While there,
we had some help but not a whole lot. This
digression shows you that younger ministers,
wives, and Free Will Baptist workers received
very little salary. Churches often paid pastors
ten dollars a week, and they pastored four
churches a month, going to one each Sunday.

I praise God that we have made so much
progress that young ministers today can buy

homes and have so many benefits that we did not
have. This was and is a certain cause of our
ministers' deaths because of having to work so
hard that they could not retire. At least, that is
what our doctors always told us.

Now, I could digress enough for an entire
issue of The Free Will Baptist, but I will get back
on my main subject. What is it? Retirement
Homes is my main subject. We have a good
Board of Directors, with the Rev. Walter Sutton
as Chairman of the Board. He would love to
represent the Retirement Homes, enlighten you
on what it is all about and encourage you to sup-
port it. You perhaps know that if a person is a
member of a Free Will Baptist Church in our
Convention or has been employed by a church or
institution and has retired, he can apply for
residency with the Board.

To live in a retirement home, you must pay
30% of your monthly or yearly income. You may
not believe as I do, and that is your privilege.
Somehow I can only believe that God laid it on
some person's heart to start this program. I can
say this from experience, because every time we
did anything we asked God to lay on our hearts
what He wanted us to do, and if we prayed
without ceasing as we should we always got the
answer.

We knew Mr. Bowen could not live long with
the bad heart that he had. We often spoke of what
I would do when I was left. He tried to advise me
but if you do not own your home and have very
little money, you can't advise very well.

The time came and I was alone. I got on my
knees day and night and prayed that God would
guide me. I began to call and try to find some
kind of apartment but to no avail. Yet God was
working. He was putting on the hearts of many
Free Will Baptists to speak in my behalf. I had
friends that I didn't know I had. The Rev. Walter
Sutton came to my door one day and I invited
him in. He asked what I planned to do. I told him
that it seemed all doors had closed on me. He
asked me what I wanted to do. I told him that I
wanted to stay in Ayden or go back to Wilson.
Mr. Sutton said that they wanted to situate some
retirees in locations with which they were
familiar. He spoke of a small house for sale in
Ayden. I told him that it was wonderful. Ar-
rangements were finally made and I moved. Do
you believe that God works in these things? I do!
He answered my prayers and the prayers of so
many others. The Retirement Homes program of
our denomination is one of the best programs
ever started.

(Continued on Page 22)

January 1986

19

V™ co

\£i CN

o

1 co

' CO
3

■» «- CM

> u r- •- CO

iturda

Genesis

Genesis

Exod

Exodus

EBRUAR
T W T

4 5 6

11 12 13
18 19 20.
25 26 27 ;

&

LL. * <- <- CM

cm o) to co

■» CM

©8

In -

- CM

r —
CO

CN

1 X

CN &

cn co

3

>%

CO
CO

c

_«»

CO

UJ

CO
3

T3
O
X

Fridi

CD

o

CD

c

CD

c

■o
o

X

LU

O

CD

a

HI

h.

f A
W

CM ?

SO s

en ?

O 3

c

0

00

lesis A

1

sis 46-

CN

CO
3

CO
3

0)

hurs<

S
o

Gene

Gene

Exoc

O
X
LU

E

0

>

E

dnesday

1

Genesis 1-3

8

Genesis 22-24

15

Genesis 43-45

22

Exodus 14-16

29

Exodus 35-37

ment li

We

irei

14

nesis 40-42

21

odus 11-13

28

odus 32-34

Z

sday

lesis 1S

is I

<

Tue

CD

o

CD

O

X
HI

X
LU

wary

en 8

C3 °

(0

CO

T—

CO

<n

CN d>

(0

CO

•u

CO

CO
m

CO
CD

"D
O

3
"D

on

Gent

Gen

X

LU

Exo

IT) £

CMS

V© 8

#jj Is- ^ *- oo
"> t- cm cm

CO

* CO

CN £

nday

EMBER

W T F

A C C

11 12 13
18 19 20
25 26 27

enesis

Genesis

Exodu

Exodus

3

</)

•u -<-CM«
Satcvoiiono
Q ■ t- eg co

w »- CM CM

RETIREMENT HOMES!

RETIREMENT HOMES,
WHAT ARE THEY?

(Continued from Page 19)
The main prayer I pray now
is to thank God for a place that
is comfortable to live in. I also
pray if it is possible that God
will somehow let Mr. Bowen
know what our denomination
has done for me and that I am
being taken care of.

What can you do? The Free
Will Baptist Retirement Homes
Board is moving on and the
retirees who are so thankful are
moving on with the Spirit of
God guiding them. Do you want
to move on with us? Then pray
every day for our Board and
our retirees. Give as you have
never given before so that we
can prepare more homes and
bless the retirees that stood by
you through the years. This is
the best way to honor those who
have served and believed that
our doctrine was the best that
anyone had. JANUARY IS
RETIREMENT HOMES
MONTH. Ask God to tell you
what to give and listen. He will
speak very strongly and you
must respond! Please send
your offerings to Free Will Bap-
tist Retirement Homes, P.O.
Box 39, Ayden, NC 28513.

RELIGIOUS
CONTRIBUTIONS

November 1985
Total: $1,827.33
Cape Fear

Casey's Chapel $ 32.00

Casey's Chapel Auxiliary 20.00

Goldsboro, First Auxiliary 20.00

Haymount Auxiliary 20.00

Powhatan Auxiliary 20.00

Total $112.00

Central

Aspen Grove League $ 10.00

Bethany Auxiliary 20.00

Central Conference 75.00
Daniels Chapel Auxiliary JWE 10.00

Edgewood Auxiliary 20.00

Edgewood Sunday School 30.00

Friendship Auxiliary 20.00

Gum Swamp 75.00

Howell Swamp Auxiliary 10.00

Hugo Auxiliary 10.00

Hull Road 100.00

King's Cross Roads Auxiliary 10.00

Marlboro Auxiliary 40.00

Reedy Branch Auxiliary 10.00

Total $440.00

Eastern

Croatan $ 25.00

Deep Run Auxiliary 15.00

Holly Springs 250.00

Macedonia Auxiliary 20.00

Sandy Plain 37.50

Sandy Plain Auxiliary 20.00

White Oak Grove 200.00

Total $567.50

Pee Dee

Beaverdam Auxiliary $20.00

Cypress Creek Auxiliary 20.00

Oak Grove Auxiliary 20.00

Total $60.00

Piedmont

East Rockingham Auxiliary $20.00
Western

Barnes Hill $100.00

Free Spirit 46.00

Fremont 150.00

Kenly Auxiliary 20.00

Mount Zion Auxiliary (Wilson) 20.00

Pleasant Grove Auxiliary 20.00

Sherron Acres 20.00

Stancil's Chapel Auxiliary 20.00

Stony Hill Auxiliary 20.00

Total $416.00

N.C. State Auxiliary Convention

(Christian Service Fund) $111.83

Individuals

Jean H. Moore $100.00

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

[CHILDREN'S HOME

It's Your Move:
When Is Enough, Enough?

(or, Turning Down
That Corporate Transfer

So You
Don't Have to Move Again)

sA<n-H as

Dad called everyone to come
into the kitchen. (I knew why.)
He asked us to sit down, he had
something to tell us. (I knew
what it was.) He announced
we're going to move to another
city, he'd been transferred. (I
was right.)— A 12-year-old girl

Americans move a lot. Forty
million relocate every 12
months for one reason or
another. That's one-in-six of
everybody. A big part of that
number move locally— to a
"nicer" house in a "better"
part of town. Those kinds of
moves are cause for joy and
celebration. The other
kind— leaving because of Mom
or Dad's job— is often less than
pleasant.

Re rooting from one town to
another— whether in the same
or different state, same or dif-
ferent country— marks one of
the basic traumas of family
life. Single adults, or married
people without children where
only one spouse has a job out-
side the home, fare pretty well
on Moving Day. The rest find it
very trying. Psychologists even

describe the moving-of-
families in clinical terms, trac-
ing the presence of such
ailments as migraine head-
aches and toothaches to the
sheer stress of uprooting.

Ironically, families who
move a lot don't get used to it.
In fact, after the second move
studies show that families

begin to believe they'll never
find "home" after all. Children
in these families often refuse to
make real friends. They only
make acquaintances. They're
easier to say good-bye to. Carol
Dowsett, daughter of a retired
Air Force colonel writing about
this "no-one-knows-me" theme
in an article in Ladycom, a

(Turn the Page)

January 1986

23

CHILDREN'S HOME

military life-style magazine,
comments: "No one I know
now knew me when I wore
braces. No one who knew me
then knows how pretty and
straight my teeth are now."

Moving Is Costly

Moving Americans is a costly
business, not just in family life
stress but also in actual dollars
and cents. Corporations
calculate it costs them an
average of $40,000 to move an
employee and his family. These
"re-location packages" include
movement of household goods;
transportation for employee
and family ; house-hunting trips
(as many as it takes); home-
finding assistance from an
agent or relocation service;
and financial assistance, like
closing costs, loan origination
fees and points , to purchase the
home. Some companies help
with the sale of the old home,
while others even guarantee
the sale and cash payment to
cover any loss on the sale.

At IBM, one of the larger
employers in North Carolina,
especially in the Research
Triangle Park area (Raleigh-
Durham-Chapel Hill), em-
ployees are provided all the
basic relocation services and
financial reimbursements.
Maxine Yee, of IBM's New
York office, told Charity and
Children that the worldwide
computer company employs
relocation administrators who
". . . interface with employees,
give advice and counsel and
provide information to make
transition as smooth as possi-
ble." IBM, in addition to the
usual services of house-hunting
trips and mortgage differential
fees, pays for living expenses
upon arrival to the new location
for 56 days for the employee
and 15 days for dependents.

Some companies go even
beyond these basic services
and provide interest free sec-

ond mortgages, cost-of-living
allowances, additional money
to cover higher property and in-
come taxes, and private school
tuition or out-of-state tuition if
your children's education costs
rise because of a move.

The high price tag of moving
has caused some large corpora-
tions to reconsider earlier
policies of shifting executives
around the country. IBM, once
said to stand for "I've Been
Moved," has reduced its
transfer of employees from an
average of five to three percent
of its total 240,000 U.S.
workforce. The computer com-
pany, concerned with its earlier
image of moving thousands of
people from city-to-city, now
tries to build a second job ex-
perience or promotion into a
relocation. Even the military,
perhaps the greatest people-
mover of all time, will
sometimes relocate an entire
regiment, hoping that moving a
large group together will make
it easier for families to main-
tain friendships.

Biggest Cost Is
Family Relations

The $40,000 price tag for the
average corporate move,
however, is small compared to
difficulties experienced by
many families who feel
uprooted from a familiar com-
munity. The promise of "a big-
ger house and your own
bedroom" is little comfort to
the 15-year-old daughter who
just got selected to be in the
high school color guard. The
"trailing spouse," 99 percent of
the time the wife, may harbor
real anger that her career was
cut short because of her hus-
band's job transfer. The feeling
of having no choice in the mat-
ter is debilitating.

Of the three major elements
to consider in a job
transfer— your career, your
family and your fi-

nances—family must be placed
as the number one priority. To
do less is to worship at the altar
of self-destruction. What does it
profit a man (or woman) to
gain the world and lose those
few people about him truly
capable of providing genuine
love? Spouse and children must
come first.

The trauma of moving, of
course, depends upon the age
and size of the family and the
place you're moving from and
to. A transfer from Raleigh to
Charlotte is obviously easier
than one from Raleigh to the
Middle East. Single adults can
pack up and leave with greater
ease than parents with
school-age children. The
younger marrieds, with no
children or preschoolers, and
the older adults, with the last
child out of high school, also
find uprooting simpler. In fact,
moving for the young and old
can be an opportunity to "start
over" in a fresh and exciting
environment.

The difficult times to move,
according to the experts, are
when children are between
ages 3 and 5 or 14 and 16, the
age clusters when children
have the most problems ad-
justing to new friends p,nd
situations. In fact, smoothing
the move for the children is one
of the most critical aspects of
relocation. (See "Moving
Children" on the next page.)

Another difficult situation is
when the "accompanying"
spouse" (usually the wife) has
a career of her own outside the
home, which accounts for 41
percent of the wives nation-
wide. Some companies, like
IBM, attempt to help the spouse
find employment in the new
community; although in most
cases she must take a job for
which she is overly qualified
and generally underpaid. The
resentment of the spouse whose
career suddenly becomes less

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME!

important than that of her hus-
band's job transfer can create
problems both immediate and
long term.

Should You Move?

Each person must obviously
decide if the job transfer is
worth the costs— financially
and emotionally. Until recently
few corporate ladder-climbers
ever turned down a move. But a
lot has changed. One-in-three
people nationwide turn down
job transfers each year, up
from something around only
one-in-ten a decade or so ago.

If you decide to move, make
careful and thoughtful deci-
sions throughout the process.
Remember, the excitement of
more money and a bigger office
pale quickly when you must
cope daily with an unhappy
wife and children. Be realistic.
Know yourself. Keep your
sense of humor. After all, it's
your move.

Moving Children

As many as one-third of all
moves do not go well. There are
a lot of reasons why. Adjust-
ment of the children is the most
oft-given reason.

Moving children, as any
parent knows, is difficult. A
weekend trip to grandmother's
can be a challenge for a sea-
soned mother. Children like the
familiar. They like to go to bed
in their bed, and wake up there
as well.

Close to eight million
children under age 12 move
each year, including those who
move around the corner as well
as those around the world. For
a child under 12, the thought of
changing residence can be very
frightening. He has lived most
(or a large percentage) of his
life in a single place. You may
have already moved several
times before you ever married.
But your current address

represents a large part of your
child's total life.

One of the most important
bits of advice for moving
children is to prepare them for
what lies ahead. Be honest and
upfront about the situation.
Children want to be involved
and feel some sense of control
over where they will live. Don't
be impatient if they fail to see
how this move will help their
father's career with the com-
pany. That doesn't mean much
to them. All they know is that
they are leaving a house,
neighborhood, school and
church where they know peo-
ple, to go to a different set of
these elements where they
don't know anybody.

The moving company may
guarantee they will not break
your "most precious belong-
ings" but no one can help you
move what you know is your
most precious "belonging" of
all, your children.

So, the job is up to
you— mother and father— to
make the move as smooth as
possible for the children. After
all, you say you are moving for
a better life for them. So, take
them into consideration when
planning and carrying out the
moving process.

An article a couple of years
ago in Parents magazine pro-
vided some helpful hints for
parents moving with children.
Here are a few of those sugges-
tions.

* Try to involve the children
in the move— the planning, the
packing, the throwing away.
Give them a voice in what goes
to the new house, what goes to
Goodwill, and what simply
needs to go. Don't throw away
anything belonging to a child
without a discussion first.
Holding on to some of those old
possessions can be important.
Emphasize that the old
homeplace is not going out of

existence. You may want to
make a scrapbook for your
children so they can remember
where they once lived.

* Very young children need
to be reassured that they are
coming along on the move. Ex-
perts tells us that many tod-
dlers live in fear of being left
behind while the movers are
carrying out the furniture and
appliances.

* Once you've moved, get
back into a "normal" routine
as soon as possible. The first
few weeks at the new house are
never fun. You can't find
anything and declare that the
moving company lost at least
one-fourth of everything you
own. You find your husband's
ties packed with the pots and
pans. The Christmas or-
naments are right on top, but
it's July and you don't even
need to know where they are
right now. Eventually, you've
got to stop eating out and cook
something in your new kitchen.
Life needs to return to normal.

* Planning activities the first
few weeks for the children is
important. Find a swimming
pool (if it's summer), day
camp, anything to set up some
kind of routine. Drive around.
Establish some routes to places
so that things can begin to look
more familiar.

* Once you move, be moved.
Don't load up the car every
weekend to drive back "home."
This tells your children, your
new neighbors and your old
neighbors something about
your attitude of the new
homeplace.

* Try not to compare com-
munities. There is a tendency
to take all the good of the old
neighborhood and place it
alongside all the bad of the new
neighborhood. So your new
house has a carport instead of a
full-size garage. You'll get used
to it.

(Turn the Page)

January 1986

25

CHILDREN'S HOME

* Realize that it takes time
for you and your children to
make friends. It takes six to 18
months or longer. It also takes
a lot of acquaintances to find a
friend or two. Resist comparing
your new would-be friends to a
tried-and-true friendship
established over many years.

* Remember, your children
share many of your feelings
and anxieties. How you feel
about moving will affect their
feelings as well. If you're
positive, there is a better
chance they will be too. If
you're negative, it's almost cer-
tain they will mirror your
discontent.

In time, the adjustments will
be made. The new home will be
referred to as just "home" and
the place you moved from will
be only a memory, both for you
and your children.

A TWENTIETH CENTURY
PHENOMENON CREATES NEW
PROBLEMS AND NEEDS

by Robert R. Stump

Family moving is primarily a
20th century phenomenon.
Sociologists relate family
mobility to our attempt to
reach the "American dream."
The wage earner's attempt to
seek and/or secure better
employment or housing is the
major reason for most family
moves.

In 1981, 17.2 percent or
39,824,000 of the total population
moved to a different residence,
as compared to 26.5 percent or
57,327,000 in 1977. In North
Carolina, 48.8 percent of the
population or 2,937,000 in-
dividuals moved between 1975
and 1980. On a national level,
one out of six children move an-
nually. In North Carolina, one
out of three children moved be-
tween 1975 and 1980.

Families began to move with
the onset of industrialization
and the automobile. The ability
to secure employment in cities
caused farm families to begin
migrating to industrial centers.
The primary effect this move-
ment had on the family was to
break with and lessen the role
of the extended family. Family
theorists mark this as a major
turning point for the American
family.

As families began to be
mobile, family traditions,
values, and relationships began
to change. Traditions such as
Thanksgiving dinner at grand-
mother's house or birthday
celebrations were no longer
possible due to distance. This
support system previously pro-
vided by relatives disappeared
and created the need for family
self-reliance.

The majority of family
moves occur within the same
city or county of their original
residence. This kind of move
appears to be done to enable the
family to improve their living
situations. Most often this
means the children will have to
change schools.

Moving, whether it be across
the city or across the country,
has the same impact on the
child if he has to change schools
and adjust to a new peer group.
How the child handles new ex-
periences and adjusts to new
environments and relationships
depends on the security he feels
from his parent(s). Secure
home base relationships make
it easier for the child to ex-
perience a move and face both
new peer and adult relation-
ships.

The major problem created
by moving is the separation
from relatives, close friends,
peer groups, and familiar sur-
roundings. Uprooted relation-
ships require a period of
psychological adjustment.
Probably the child is affected
the most in this process. The
most critical time for a child to
move and adjust to the anxiety
moving creates is between ages
3 and 5 and years 14 and 16.
When the teenager is faced with
uprooting and losing the securi-
ty and friendship derived from
his peer group, moving can be a
negative and even damaging
experience to the adolescent's
developmental process. Usual-
ly a drop in school performance
or sudden change in behavioral
patterns will be the child's way
of saying he is having problems
adjusting to the move.

The psychological afteref-
fects of a move can last
anywhere from six months to
one and a half years. Some in-
dividuals never psychologically
recover from the move and will
try to go back "home." The key
to a successful family move is
the advance preparation. This
not only deals with the physical
aspects of the move, but begins
the psychological adjustment
process. The feelings ex-
perienced as separation from
meaningful relationships oc-
cur, in addition to the anxiety
and fear related to establishing
new relationships— communi-
ty, school, church, work,
peers— must be talked about.

36

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Moving does not have to be a
negative experience. Statistics
suggest, though, that as the fre-
quency of a family's mobility
increases, the abuse/neglect/
dependency reports against the
family will also increase. The
loss of significant people and
relatives cause families to rely
solely on intrapersonal
resources, which are often
limited. The need for child care
in a strange town creates major
problems for a family who has
been solely dependent on kin-
ship child care.

Churches in many com-
munities actively seek out new
families to offer assistance in
their settling in and adjustment
process. Day care is one com-
munity service that is needed
because of the absence of ex-
tended family. Big brother and
big sister groups help children
immediately find a friend in a
strange town.

The purpose of the move can
make the difference in terms of
how the family copes with the
move. If the family's purpose is
to get away from problems, the
move most often will be un-
pleasant. If the family views
the move as presenting new
opportunities and challenges,
emotional energy most often is
challenged and directed toward
making the most of the new op-
portunities. One must keep in
mind that moves don't just hap-
pen, they must be carefully
thought through, feelings an-
ticipated and dealt with at ap-
propriate times.
(Robert R. Stump, ACSW, is coor-
dinator of social work for Baptist
Children's Homes.)

. . . Before You Move

One important matter that is
often overlooked during a move
is the settling of paperwork.
Bills, banks accounts, legal
papers and medical records all
need to be transferred to your
new location. Tending to these

■■CHILDREN'S HOMEH

matters quickly helps smooth
your move and makes you feel
more "at home" in your new
home.

Changing Times magazine
offers these suggestions for
transferring your paperwork
quickly and easily.

Bills and Accounts

You'll want the bills and
publications that come to your
old mailbox to end up in your
new one, on time and properly
addressed. Don't assume,
however, that a forwarding
card at the post office will
cover everything. Write to each
of your accounts, informing
them of your new address and
the date it becomes effective.
Don't forget to include your old
address and account number, if
applicable, in your cor-
respondence.

Don't close your checking ac-
count too early. There may be
last-minute expenses you
weren't counting on, and you'll
need to get to your money
quickly and easily.

Once you've opened an ac-
count in your new location, ask
your old bank to close your ac-
count. The old bank will either
send you a cashier's check for
the balance or wire the money
directly to your new account.

If you're moving out-of-state,
car loans and other loans that
involve a title may present a
problem. Some banks won't let
you transfer the title to a new
state before paying off the loan.
Without a title you can't
register the car, and without
registration you could be
ticketed by police. You may
need to prearrange a new loan
in your new location to pay off
the old debt and free the title
for transfer.

Insurance

Auto, life and health in-
surance policies usually stay in
effect when you move, but be
sure to notify your agent of
your new address. Renters and
homeowners insurance will
probably cover your posses-
sions while in transit, but if it
won't, check with your moving
company about coverage.

Lawyers, Doctors
and Mechanics

You are entitled to originals
and copies of everything you've
given your attorney. If you
move very far away, you may
need to consider writing a new
will that names a new executor
to your estate.

Be sure to have your medical
and dental records forwarded
to your new doctor and dentist.
Also arrange for your
children's school records to be
sent to their new schools.

If you're taking prescription
drugs, get enough to last until
you find a new doctor. You may
be able to have the prescrip-
tions filled after you move, but
procedures vary widely, de-
pending on state laws and drug
types. According to phar-
macists, heart and blood
pressure prescriptions can
usually be filled for up to six
months.

Organize as complete a
record as possible of
maintenance and repairs done
to your car. Knowing what has
recently been replaced could
spare you from needless
repairs should you run into an
unscrupulous mechanic.

Finally, take your old phone
books to your new home. This
can be extremely helpful,
especially if you've left rental
property or an unsold house,
because you'll be able to call
local plumbers or electricians
should an emergency arise.

January 1986

27

CHILDREN'S HOME

News About
Children and Families

One-Parent Households
Increase Sharply in U.S.

One in four American
families with children under 18
are one-parent families, the
Census Bureau reports.

Twenty-six percent of all
households are single parent,
compared to 22<~r in 1980 and
13rr in 1970.

The dramatic rise of the one-
parent family has been one of
the major social developments
of recent times and is viewed
by many students of social
trends as a major factor in in-
creased poverty and welfare
dependency.

Nine out of 10 of these
families are headed by women,
and they are disproportionately
black and poor.

The Census Bureau's survey
found that in 1984 there were
33.2 million families with
children under IS, and 8.5
million of them were one-
parent families.

Although the poverty rate for
the nation as a whole was 15.2r'<~
in 19S3, it was 40<~'r for single-
parent families headed by
white women and 60r'<~ for those
headed by black women.

Experts have offered a varie-
ty of reasons for the increase in
one-parent families: more
births out of wedlock, separa-
tions and divorces, and wider
job opportunities for women.

— The Washington Post

School Enrollment
Headed Up

For the first time in almost 15
years, elementary school
enrollment is on the rise,
reflecting the U.S.'s mini-baby
boom.

There will be increases in
elementary enrollment for the
next 10 years, which will, of
course, show a similar enroll-

28

ment rise in high schools and
even colleges in the years to
come.

Total enrollment in public
schools has dropped since 1974
from 45.1 million to 39.4 million.

Reprinted with permission of Baptist
Children's Home.

For More Information on Moving:

The Book of America, by Neal R. Pierce and Jerry Hagstrom
The Book of America City Rankings, by John T. Martin and James S. Avery
Moving: A Guide to Selecting a School System, by Albert and Marilyn Pautler
Moving io . . . . Moving Publications Ltd.. P.O. Box 183. Synder, N.Y. 14226
Places Rated Almanac, by Richard Boyer and David Savageau

For children, ages 2 to 5:

The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day. by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Moving Day. by Tobi Tobias, illustrated by William Pene Du Bois

Ag?s 6 to 9:

I'm Moving, by Martha Whitmore Hickman, illustrated by Leigh Grant
Moving Molly, by Shirley Hughes

Maggie and the Goodbye Gift, by Sue and Jerry Milord

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. illustrated
by Byron Barton

Ages 10 to 14 :

Goodbye, House: A Kids' Guide to Moving, by Ann Banks and Nancy Evans, il-
lustrated by Marisabina Russo
It 's Your Move: Picking Up. Packing Up. Settling In. by Linda Bourke

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

What makes America's tradi-
tional Christmas so special in
all of our lives? Why is it one of
the most exciting and elec-
trically charged seasons of the
year? Most of us feel it. We try
to express it in a diversity of
ways like gifts, decorations and
greeting cards. Yet, a clear-cut
answer seems to fade into
realms of nostalgia and
memory. Perhaps it is the fan-
fare of celebration and ac-
tivities, or the rainbow of color-
ful displays. Or maybe it's the
magic of chilly white winter
scenery outside a window that
is fogged by a warm fire and
hot coffee.

These descriptions and
millions more call forth images
that make up what we have
come to know as the traditional
American Christmas. It seems
the real beauty, however, is
that every heart has its own ac-
cumulated perception of the
answers to these two questions.
These perceptions are largely
shaped by the experiences each

REFLECTING

person has throughout his
childhood years. Knowing this,
our child care ministry spends
a great deal of time and effort
making sure that deposits
made in our children's seasonal
memory banks are worthwhile
investments for each child's
future .

Through the years, many
persons and groups have joined
us in this investment by giving
of their time, their gifts, their
prayers, and themselves. Now
that the holiday season is over,
it seems appropriate to reflect
upon that which has been done
for our children. In reflecting
we see that no one had to take
the time to plan parties . . . but
they did! They weren't obli-
gated to transport people and
refreshments on cold winter
nights . . . but they did ! No one
was coerced into sponsoring
every single child in our care
(34) for $80 each in buying one
of the few Christmas gifts that
some would even get . . . but
they gave anyway! There

wasn't an organized prayer
vigil to kneel "around-the-
clock" in prayer for this great
ministry . . . but God knows how
many have prayed for the
needs of our children during
this sensitive season. And there
wasn't a grand recognition ser-
vice at the end of the holiday
season to acknowledge the
sacrifice of those who directly
minister to our children . . . but
that's okay; they know their
glory will unfold with the years
as children become adults and
cash in on the investment made
by our child care workers.

All of these have become a
part of the accumulated
perceptions of what will make
the holiday seasons so special
for our children through the
coming years. To all of such,
we say with deep and sincere
gratitude . . . "Thank you." But
don't forget, the children need
you year around. Won't you
continue to make them a part of
your lifetime investment?

January 1986

29

ilSUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

STARTING A
SUNDAY SCHOOL COUNCIL

by Bass Mitchell
WHY?

Why start a Sunday School council in your
church?

I do not know of any growing Sunday School
that does not have an active Sunday School coun-
cil, or at least something like it! The Sunday
School requires a great deal of planning,
overseeing, and supervision. Goals need to be
set. Policies established. Problems solved.
Teachers trained and supported. New classes
started. Outreach programs planned and carried
out. To do all of these things and everything else
required to have a growing Sunday School means
that a council is absolutely essential !

If you want your Sunday School to grow and
improve, then start a Sunday School council. If
you already have one, you may need to improve
it. This article is intended to help you do both.

Who?

Who should be on the Sunday School council?

One answer to this question is to have all
Sunday School officers and teachers on it, in-
cluding assistants. Many churches do this. This

is understandable and can work well in small
Sunday Schools. But if your Sunday School has
more than seven classes, then this may not be
the best way to determine council members, for
it will make the council too large. The council
does not need more than fifteen members. Less
than this would be better.

1 would recommend the following to make up
your council!

1. The Superintendent (Chairman)

2 The Assistant Superintendent

3. The Sunday School secretary

4. A teacher of adults

5. A teacher of young adults

6. A teacher of youth

7. A teacher of elementary children

8. A teacher of preschoolers

9. A parent of a teenager in your Sunday School

10. A parent of a child in your Sunday School

11. The pastor

It should be obvious that these persons are
active in the Sunday School, concerned about it,
and willing to devote the time required for an ef-
fective council.

These persons are nominated by the
nominating committee of the church. They serve
one-year terms.

What

What are the responsibilities of a Sunday
School council?

Answering this question is a crucial step.
The failure to take this step is one reason why
many already established Sunday School coun-
cils are ineffective. They really do not know what
they are supposed to do! If this is the case with
your Sunday School council, then the next
meetings should be devoted to determining your
tasks.

The following are some proposed respon-
sibilities for the Sunday School council:

1. To oversee the total Sunday School program.

2. To discover and address the needs and prob-
lems of the Sunday School.

3. To draft a statement of the purpose and objec-
tives of the Suriay School.

4. To determine policies and set goals for the Sun-
day School.

5. To promote and publicize the Sunday School to
the whole church.

6. To make a quarterly report to the church on the
Sunday School program, especially its progress
and needs.

7. To plan the budget of the Sunday School which
is to be recommended to the church.

8. To provide adequate supplies and equipment to
all Sunday School workers.

9. To see to it that adequate space is provided for
each class.

10. To set up new classes as needed.

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

11. To recommend curriculum materials.

12. To act as a nominating committee for the selec-
tion of Sunday School officers and teachers.

13. To maintain a cooperative relationship with the
home.

14. To maintain a cooperative relationship with
Sunday School interests and agencies in the de-
nomination.

15. To keep informed about what is going on in
Sunday School work.

16. To study your task and grow in your ability to
function effectively.

17. To plan and direct the Sunday School outreach
program.

18. To make a periodic evaluation of the Sunday
School in light of stated objectives.

19. To provide training, supervision, and support
for all Sunday School officers and teachers.

20. The primary objective of the Sunday School
council is to promote the overall growth and im-
provement of the Sunday School.

Examine each of these in detail. Adapt them
to your Sunday School. Add new ones. Drop the
ones which do not apply. Make these your own.

How?

How can the council become equipped to
carry out these responsibilities?

It is vital that the council members learn all
they can about the work of the Sunday School.
This is a constant need. It should have a high
priority, especially at the beginning.

I recommend that the council members read
and discuss a book on Sunday School work. This
should be done as soon as possible. Time could be
taken each council meeting for this.

There are many good books on the subject.
Some are especially written for such councils. I
recommend the following:

New Life in Your Sunday School, by Iris Cully
6as/c Sunday School Work, by Harry Piland
Building an Effective Church School, by Kenneth
Blazier

A Growing Church School, by Kenneth Blazier
There are many other excellent books,
magazines, films, filmstrips, and other
resources available. Feel free to call or write me
for further recommendations of resources.

When?

When should the council meet?

The specific dates and times for the
meetings have to be arranged around the
schedules of the council members. However, it is
a fact of life that it is often difficult to set a
meeting that does not conflict with someone's
schedule.

The real question is how often it should meet.
Some meet on a quarterly basis. This means that
the council will have only four meetings a year to

do all its works. This is totally inadequate. Bi-
monthly is better, but this means only six
meetings a year. I feel that it is best to meet at
least on a monthly basis, scheduling extra ses-
sions when needed.

Now let me offer some further advice.

Each meeting must be planned carefully. If
they are not, then you will be wasting everyone's
time. You all will end up very frustrated.

The superintendent, as chairman, and the
pastor could get together well before each
meeting to draw up an agenda. An agenda is
simply an outline of the meeting, listing what
items will be discussed and how much time will
be given to the discussion of each item. The agen-
da is then sent to every council member at least
a week before the meeting. This provides them
time to look it over and begin thinking about the
items to be addressed. This will help facilitate
the meeting.

Another important thing to do is make sure
that minutes are taken for each meeting. The
Sunday School secretary could do this. A copy of
the minutes from the last meeting should be sent
with the agenda for the upcoming meeting.

Keep the church informed about what the
council is doing. Use your church bulletin or
newsletter. Make periodic announcements. Ask
for the prayers of the church.

When you have your final list of respon-
sibilities, make copies for church members.
Pass them out in a quarterly conference. The
church needs to know what you are doing. You
need to have the approval of the church, as well
as its support. And this is a way of reminding the
church that the Sunday School is a vital part of
the church and that it is the responsibility of the
whole church!

Seek constantly to grow in your knowledge of J
Sunday School work and in your ability to carry
out your responsibilities as a council. Read all
you can. Have a resource person come from time
to time to speak on some topic relevant to your
situation. Take advantage of our certification j
program.

Do not take on too much at once. Prioritize.
What are two or three major and pressing needs
in your Sunday School? Concentrate on these.

Plan! Plan! Plan! And plan well! Make
short-term plans and set long-range goals.
Where do you want your Sunday School in a
year? What changes would you like to see in it in
three years? In five years?

Work hard! Pray without ceasing! Study!
The Lord will bless your efforts. Your Sunday
School can grow and improve !

January 1986

31

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE I

The Rivenbark family— (left to right) Fred Jr., Mrs. Rivenbark, June R. Critcher, Mr.
Rivenbark, and Faye R. Davis.

A SPECIAL FOUNDERS
DAY AT MOC

by Dr. Charles Phillips
Professor of English
Mount Olive College

The 34th anniversary of the
founding of Mount Olive Col-
lege was celebrated on Tues-
day, November 26, 1985, in Col-
lege Hall. This was a special
commemoration because the
Founders Day speaker was the
Rev. Fred A. Rivenbark, a
native of Mount Olive and a
minister in the Free Will Bap-
tist Church for fifty years.
"Fred Rivenbark never sought
greatness, only to serve. But he
has attained greatness by his
work as minister and servant"
said Dr. Burkette Raper, presi-
dent of Mount Olive College.

Members One of Another

Mr. Rivenbark's address, en-
titled "Members One of
Another," developed the idea
that "Christ associates us with
Himself in a most intimate
union. He is the Founda-
tion—and we are the building;
Christ is the Vine— we are the
branches; Christ is the
Shepherd— we are the flock;
Christ is the Husband— we are

the bride; Christ is the
Head— we are the members."

Using the idea that Christ is
the Head of the church and the
members are its body, Mr.
Rivenbark emphasized four
points. First, he said, because
Christ is the Head, the body
must take directions from Him.
"Sometimes we get this turned
around— and we want to give
directions to God." He said that
this often occurred in subtle
ways. "For example, we make
our plans first, but then pray to
God to bless them, rather than
asking God what His plans are
for us."

Second, Mr. Rivenbark said
that the Head is dependent
upon the body. Christ needs us
to carry out His work for Him.
We must be Christ's hands, feet
and tongue. The third point was
that the body is dependent upon
the Head for its direction.
"Jesus says: 'Apart from Me
you can do nothing. ' No kind of
activity makes sense apart
from Him. All through the day
we must stay tuned in to Him
and listen to His voice."

Finally, he said, "The
members of the body are in-
terdependent." Just as it takes

many parts of our body acting
together to perform a simple
act like eating an apple, so it
takes the members of Christ's
body acting together to per-
form His work. Furthermore,
just as our bodies are made up
of different parts, so the
members of the body of Christ
are not all alike. "Although
there is unity, there is not
uniformity. Each of us is
distinctively different. We are
formed by God to do a unique
work for Him." Mr. Rivenbark
stressed that interdependence
also means that the members
of Christ's body must help one
another. "When one member of
the body hurts, the entire body
hurts. The New Testament tells
us that we are responsible for
one another."

Special Presentations

Mr. Rivenbark's Founders
Day message was the high
point of a program which in-
cluded music by the Mount
Olive Concert Choir and the
presentation of awards and cer-
tificates to trustees, faculty,
and staff.

Mrs. Mildred Southerland
Council was awarded the status
of "Librarian Emeritus" for
her service to the College as
librarian from 1955 to 1965.
Three faculty members were
recognized for six years of ser-
vice to the College: Dr. Opey
Dew Jeanes of Mount Olive,
vice president and dean;
Donald Harry Leacott of
Goldsboro, coordinator of the
Mount Olive College Program
at Seymour Johnson Air Force
Base; and Dr. Pepper Wor-
thington of Kinston, head of the
Department of Languages and
Literature. In addition, two
trustees, Charles W. Pittman
III, of Wilson, and Sherrill
Williams, of Newton Grove,
received recognition for their
six years of service.

32

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information
Mount Olive College

"Servant," "pastor" and
"father"— the tributes sur-
rounded the Rev. Fred A.
Rivenbark in the candlelit
room at Mount Olive College.
The occasion was a dinner for
Mr. Rivenbark in appreciation
of his 50 years of ministerial
service to Original Free Will
Baptists. The dinner was at-
tended by 150 of Mr. and Mrs.
Rivenbarks' friends.

The three Rivenbark children
were on hand along with their
parents to greet the guests.
Fred Jr. came from Towson,
Maryland; June Rivenbark
Critcher came from Nashville,
Tennessee; and Faye Riven-
bark Davis arrived from Dum-
fries, Virginia. The time was
made more special because it
was the first time in years that
the children and their parents
had been together "all by
ourselves."

Tributes were offered by the
Rev. Walter Reynolds; Robert
Currie, Sherron Acres Church;
Quinton Hare, Stoney Creek
Church; Mrs. Daphne Dixon,
Wilson First Church; the Rev.
Gary M. Bailey, pastor of
Stoney Creek Church; and Fred
A. Rivenbark Jr.

Mr. Rivenbark was charac-
terized as "a man who did what

God wanted him to do and went
where God wanted him to go— a
man who accomplished what he
set out to be— a pastor."

Mrs. Alma Dale of Spring Hill
Church sang "It's My Desire."
The Rev. Roy Clifton, pastor of
Sherron Acres Church, prayed
the invocation and the Rev.
Craig Simmons, pastor of
Wilson Church, offered the
benediction.

Dr. W. Burkette Raper, presi-
dent of Mount Olive College,
thanked the Rivenbarks for
their service. He asked, "I
wonder how many people here
tonight were converted under
Brother Rivenbark?" Several
people stood up including the
Rivenbark children. "What a
sense of satisfaction that must
be to you when your own
children stand," Dr. Raper said
to the beaming guest of honor.

In his response Mr. Riven-
bark expressed gratitude to his
family and told his friends, "I
thank each of you for coming
here tonight. You move my
heart.

"When I think of it, it is hard
for me to conceive that I've
been in the ministry for 50
years. I have been able to serve
as I have because of His
goodness and His mercy."

Many of the guests made a
gift to the Rivenbark Scholar-
ship Endowment, a fund for the
education of those who are
studying for the Christian
ministry.

Mr. Rivenbark thanked those
who contributed to the Endow-
ment. "Some day we'll all die,"
he said. "What we invest in the
lives of young men and women
will go on. There is no limit to
the growth of Mount Olive Col-
lege. It is our college and we're
proud of it."

The love for the Rivenbarks
warmed the room as one guest
after another hugged Fred and
Pat— and remembered.

FREE WILL BAPTIST
FELLOWSHIP OFFICERS
NAMED AT MOC

Free Will Baptist Fellowship
officers for the 1985-86 year
have been named at Mount
Olive College. The newly-
elected officers are Frankie
Baggett of Jacksonville, presi-
dent; Malcolm Shivers of
Richlands, vice president;
Wanda Jones of Pine Level,
secretary; Rhonda Flowers of
Carrboro, treasurer; and
Michael Hodges of Vanceboro,
member at large.

James Williams of Newton
Grove, Kim Anderson of Pink
Hill, and Patrick Best of
Pinetown will serve as
pianists; and Gloria Richard-
son of Goldsboro and Jon Col-
lier of Zebulon as song leaders.

Publicity committee mem-
bers are Beth Bass of Ken-
ly, chairman; Jennifer
Williams of Faison; Tanya
Newsome of Deep Run; and
Marsha Raynor of Princeton.

The Fellowship meets weekly
and is open to all students. Mrs.
Dianne B. Riley serves as the
advisor.

DAUGHTER OF INDIAN
MISSIONARY TO ATTEND
MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information

A young Indian woman,
Reena Lall, will soon savor the
delights of southern living.
Reena is the daughter of Dr.
and Mrs. Emmanuel Lall. Dr.
Lall is a native missionary for
Free Will Baptists in India and
a member of Stoney Creek
Church near Goldsboro.

Bringing Reena to Mount
Olive is a cooperative effort
between the Foreign Missions
Board and Mount Olive College.
Thanks to the sense of Christian
stewardship of many people,
she has the opportunity to study
(Turn the Page)

January 1986

33

Reena Latl
in the United States and to
prepare herself for a business
career.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie G.
Howell, of Pikeville, have
chosen to be Reena's
"American parents" and to
provide a "home away from
home" during holidays and on
some weekends.

"We want Reena to feel a
part of our family," says Mrs.
Howell. "We want to involve
her in our family activities and
traditions— to get a taste of
southern living, as well as col-
lege life in the United States.
We know we are the ones who
will be blessed by having her as
part of our family."

Individuals and churches
came forward to sponsor
Reena's education. Pooling
resources to pay for her fees,
tuition, and college expenses,
are Pleasant Grove Church in
Pikeville, Fidelis Sunday
School Class of Shady Grove
Church near Dunn, Senders
Fellowship of Pikeville, and
Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

The good being done for
Reena through the combined
efforts of so many is expressed
in a letter to Dianne B. Riley,
the director of admissions.
Reena writes,

I am so thankful to the college
authorities for helping me out. I
am real excited to study abroad
in the great land of the U.S.A. I
thank God for this privilege. God
will bless you richly.

IMOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Wayne County dinner "best ever"— The churches of Wayne County contributed
$32,295 in gift support for Mount Olive College. Pictured following the dinner, which
was held in College Hall, are, from left, Jean F. Ackiss, director of church support
and coordinator of the dinners; Borden Howell of Spring Hill Church; Joe Rollins of
Pleasant Grove Church; and Bettie Talton, Wayne County dinner chairman (photo by
Ben Rollins).

"LARGEST INCREASE" BRINGS 1985 DINNER GOAL OVER THE TOP!

"We had an increase of $18,670 over last year's gifts of
$183,987," said Jean F. Ackiss, coordinator of the 17 annual gift sup-
port dinners for Mount Olive College. "Our goal for this year was
$200,000. We raised $202,657. This is the largest increase we have
ever had! "

Mrs. Ackiss feels that two factors contributed to the increase in
giving.

"Number one is that our people really want a four-year
college," she said. "And the second factor is that we initiated a new
program last year called Bridge Builders."

Bridge Builders are individuals or families who give/pledge
$100 or more at the dinners. There are three Bridge Builders
Clubs -$100-499, College Club; $500-999, President's Club; and
$1,000 and over, Trustees' Club.

"We had 480 Bridge Builders this year, an increase of 157. That
greatly influenced our gifts," she added.

Fourteen counties exceeded their 1984 dinner gifts. Of special
note is the Wayne County gift support dinner which was "the best
ever in the history of Mount Olive College."

Wayne County distinguished itself in two ways. First, the coun-
ty made the largest contribution of any county in the history of the
dinners— $32,295.60, which was $12,045.60 over their goal of $20,250.
Second, Spring Hill Church, with a membership of 92, contributed
$7,305. This is the largest amount ever given by a single church.
The Wayne County folks exceeded all expectations!

"These dinners provide more than gift support," says Dr. W.
Burkette Raper, president of Mount Olive College. "They provide a
period of fellowship and let Free Will Baptists share in the ministry
of Mount Olive College."

34

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

1985 DINNER HIGHLIGHTS

EDGE COMBE -HALIFAX
COUNTIES, Rufus Harrell,
chairman. Goal-$5,925, gifts
received-$6,090. Scholarship
winners: Peace Church, most
high school students and most
per capita ; and First Church of
Tarboro, largest amount,
$3,267.

LENOIR COUNTY, Stanley
Jenkins, chairman. Goal-
$8,350, gifts received-$7,326.51.
Scholarship winners : British
Chapel Church, most high
school students ; and White Oak
Grove Church, most per capita
and largest amount, $1,731.51.

NASH COUNTY, the Rev.
Lester Duncan, chairman.
Goal-$4,400, gifts received-
$4,471.13. Scholarship winner in
all categories: Barnes Hill
Church, amount, $1,482.

ONSLOW-NEW HANOVER-
BRUNSWICK COUNTIES, the

Rev. O. B. Taylor, chairman.
Goal-$3,100, gifts received-
$2,783. Scholarship winner in all
categories: Folkstone Church,
amount, $1,687.

BEAUFORT COUNTY,

William (Billy) Gurkin, chair-
man. Goal-$8,765, gifts re-
ceived^,260. 50. Scholarship
winner in all categories:
Smyrna Church, amount,
$1,700.

GREENE COUNTY, Mrs. Lena
Walston, chairman. Goal-
$12,050, gifts received-$12,982.
Scholarship winners: Howell

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE!

Swamp Church, most per
capita; and Free Union
Church, most high school
students and largest amount,
$2,300.

DUPLIN COUNTY, William D.
Thigpen, chairman. Goal-
$10,750, gifts received-$9,316.
Scholarship winners: Piney
Grove Church, most high
school students; Pearsall's
Chapel, most per capita; and
Beulaville Church and Sandy
Plain Church, tied for largest
amount, $1,210.

WAYNE COUNTY, Mrs. Bettie
B. Talton, chairman. Goal-
$20,250, gifts received-
$32,295.60. Scholarship win-
ners: Pleasant Hill Church,
most high school students ; and
Spring Hill Church, most per
capita and largest amount,
$7,305.

JONES COUNTY, Mrs.
Mildred Jenkins, chairman.
Goal-$2,550, gifts received-
$1,775. Scholarship winners:
Whaley's Chapel Church, most
high school students; and
Friendship Church, most per
capita and largest amount,
$905.

JOHNSTON-WAKE COUN-
TIES, the Revs. Donald Coates
and K. Alan Lamm, co-
chairmen. Goal-$30,810, gifts
received-$27,550.08. Scholar-
ship winners: Everett Chapel
Church, most high school
students; Hopewell Church,
most per capita and largest
amount, $4,627.

CARTERET COUNTY,

Reginald Styron, chairman.
Goal-$9,350, gifts received-
$9,541.17, Scholarship winners:
Sound View Church, most high
school students; Pilgrim's Rest
Church, most per capita; and
Holly Springs Church, largest
amount, $3,294.

WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-
MARTIN-PASQUOTANK
COUNTIES, David Cahoon,
chairman. Goal-$6,825, gifts
received-$5,710. Scholarship
winner in all categories : Sound
Side Church, amount, $1,355.

CRAVEN COUNTY, Miss
Marice DeBruhl, chairman.
Goal-$13,350, gifts received-
$12,356. Scholarship winners:
Macedonia Church, most high
school students; Juniper
Chapel Church, most per
capita; and Saint Mary's
Church and Juniper Chapel,
largest amount.

PAMLICO COUNTY, L. R.

(Reggie) Caroon, chairman.
Goal-$6,650, gifts received,
$7,807.50. Scholarship winners:
Arapahoe Church, most high
school students; and Mount
Zion Church, most per capita
and largest amount, $1,440.

WILSON COUNTY, James B.
Hunt, chairman. Goal-$22,450,
gifts received-$21,170. Scholar-
ship winners: Daniels Chapel
Church, most high school
students; Saint Mary's Church,
most per capita; and Marsh
Swamp Church, largest
amount, $4,320.95.

PITT COUNTY, Mrs. Dorothy
Dail, chairman. Goal-$21,900,
gifts received, $20,972.03.
Scholarship winners: Marlboro
Church, most high school
students; Ayden Church, most
per capita; and Gum Swamp
Church, largest amount, $2,655.

SAMPSON-HARNETT-CUM-
BERLAND COUNTIES, the

Rev. C. Felton Godwin, chair-
man. Goal-$10,100, gifts
received-$9,744.27. Scholarship
winners: Shady Grove Church,
most high school students ; and
Lee's Chapel Church, most per
capita and largest amount,
$3,950.

January 1986

35

NEWS BRIEFS

SMITHFIELD CHURCH
CELEBRATES HOMECOM-
ING: Sunday, November
17th, was homecoming at
First Church, Smithfield.
One hundred and forty peo-
ple gathered to hear Dr.
Burkette Raper, guest
speaker, deliver the morn-
ing sermon. Many old and
new friends were present
for this annual event, which
was topped off by a fine
meal provided by the church
folks.

The evening service guest
speaker was Dr. James M.
Efird, professor at Duke
University. Dr. Efird's
presentation centered on
how to properly interpret
the Bible. A question and
answer period was provided
at the conclusion.

The Rev. K. Alan Lamm is
the pastor of the church.

EVANGELISM EXPLO-
SION TRAINING OPPOR-
TUNITY AVAILABLE: A
number of Free Will Baptist
ministers will be attending
an Evangelism Explosion III
International Clinic, in April,
1986. The Rev. Ray Wells,
pastor of Marsh Swamp
Church and chairman of the
Home Missions Board, will
lead a group of ministers to
Wallace Memorial Baptist
Church, Knoxville, Ten-
nessee, April 25-30, 1986.
Mr. Well's telephone
number is 243-6498, and his
address is Route 1, Box
67-A, Sims, NC 27880.

Tuition cost is $295, of
which the $95 registration
fee is nonrefundable. The
balance of each person's
tuition is payable on arrival
at the host church. This
covers materials, instruc-
tion and the expense of
evening meals. Lunch will
be at your own expense at a
local restaurant.

Lodging will be arranged
by the host church in the
homes of members and EE
participants on a first-come,
first-served basis. Local
motel information for ac-
commodations will be pro-
vided upon request.

Evangelism Explosion III
International was founded

by Dr. D. James Kennedy,
pastor of Coral Ridge
Presbyterian Church, Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, to fulfill
the command of Jesus in
the Great Commission to
carry the gospel to all the
world.

The clinic consists of lec-
tures, discussions, demon-
strations and "on-the-job"
training. Each participant
has the opportunity to see
the gospel presented in a
real-life situation. Going
on actual calls with ex-
perienced EE trainers, the
clinician first sees the
gospel presented and finally
shares the presentation
himself.

The clinic is a six-day
event beginning with
registration on Friday and
concluding on Wednesday
night of the following week.
It is essential that each per-
son complete the entire
schedule, including the
Sunday worship services at
the host church.

Each local church is en-
couraged to underwrite its
pastor's expense.

For more information,
you may contact the Rev.
Ray Wells, or Mr. Frank R.
Harrison, Mount Olive Col-
lege, Mount Olive, North
Carolina 28365; telephone
658-2502 (office), 658-9363
(home).

THE WINTERVILLE FREE
WILL BAPTIST CHURCH,
Winterville, had a Dedica-
tion Service on November
17, 1985. Mr. George Shoe,
architect, was there to pre-
sent the keys to the
trustees. The pastor, the
Rev. Ed Taylor, spoke on "A
Dream Come True," and
also led the dedication.

The Winterville Church
began planning the new
facility in 1972, when they
purchased the land. The
ground-breaking service
was held in October, 1981,
and the cornerstone was
laid in October, 1982. The
congregation began wor-
ship services in the
Fellowship Hall in March,
1984. Completion of the in-
terior of the sanctuary
began in the spring of 1985,

with the first service being
held November 10, 1985.

The Christian Fellowship
Class presented a Kawai
grand piano in memory of
Mr. Randolph Harris, and a
Hammond organ in memory
of "little" Christy Williams.
The Messengers Quartet
gave the funds for 'the
church sign in memory of
Mr. Clyde Hines.

There have been numer-
ous memorial and honorary
gifts to the church which
add to the beauty and
usefulness of the building,
including pews, carpet,
parlor furniture, the sound
system and kitchen ap-
pliances. The congregation
is grateful for everything
which has been given.

A Christian flag and a
United States flag were
given by the Woodmen of
the World Insurance Com-
pany.

Following the dedication,
Open House was held to
which approximately 225
persons registered. Special
thanks from the pastor, the
Rev. Ed Taylor, and the con-
gregation for making this
special day a success.

THE SECOND UNION of
the Western Conference
will convene with Union
Chapel Church near Mid-
dlesex on December 28,
1985, at 7 p.m.

THE FOURTH UNION OF
THE CENTRAL CON-
FERENCE will meet at Ot-
ter's Creek Church on
December 29. The sched-
uled program is as follows:

10:00— Sunday School
1 1:00— Moderator's Re-
marks

— Hymn 106, "Jesus
Saves"

— Welcome, R. A.
Hamilton

— Response, Donald
Webb

— Mount Olive College
Report

— Missions Report
—Children's Home Re-
port

—Special Music, La
Grange Church

11:30— Morning Message,
the Rev. Jack Scar-
borough

12:15— Lunch
1:15— Hymn 185, "There Is
Power in the Blood"

— Business Session

— Program, Local
Church

2:15— Adjournment

FREE WILL BAPTIST
HISTORICAL SOCIETY: The
Rev. Edmundo Gonzalez,
president, advises that the
spring meeting of the Free
Will Baptist Historical
Society is being planned
and an announcement of
specific time and place will
be made later. There will be
no fall meeting this year.

NAE SPEAKS OUT ON
EXPLICIT LYRICS AND
FEDERAL DEFICIT: Harmful
music lyrics and the
runaway federal deficit were
the subjects of official
statements unanimously
adopted by the Board of Ad-
ministration of the National
Association of Evangelicals
at their semi-annual
meeting in Chicago.

The statements as
adopted read as follows:

Ratings of Musical Lyrics:
Parents and citizens are
duly alarmed by the lyrics of
explicit and perverted sex
and violence on audio and
visual musical media which
are openly marketed for
children and teenagers.
Because the freedom of
speech guaranteed in the
First Amendment is based
upon responsibility for the
common good, we support
the organized efforts that
are calling for ratings of
music media as a guide for
parents and protection for
the young.

The Board of Administra-
tion of the National
Association of Evangelicals
urges that the music
publishers exercise their
responsibility by setting up
a self-rating and self-
governing system. If they do
not, we urge Congress to
enact legislation requiring
the ratings consistent with
its constitutional respon-
sibility to protect the health,

36

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

safety and welfare of its
people, including our youth.

Federal Deficit: A
runaway Federal deficit is a
moral issue that threatens
our future. Our freedom as
well as our quality of life is
at stake.

* Economic reces-
sion will take away
jobs, especially from
women, youth and
ethnic minorities.

* An inflationary
dollar will affect first
the poor, hungry,
sick and aged.

* A loss of con-
fidence in the world
market will make us
a debtor nation.

To mortgage our future
today is to invite govern-
mental intervention tomor-
row which will have social
and spiritual as well as
economic and political
repercussions. Paul, in
Romans 13, instructs Chris-
tians to avoid debt because
it restricts their freedom.
The same principle applies
to our federal debt. Debt
and loss of freedom are in-
separably entwined.
Therefore, the Board of Ad-
ministration of the National
Association of Evangelicals
urges Congress to enact
legislation reducing the cur-
rent deficit and requiring a
balanced budget.

The National Association
of Evangelicals, organized
in 1942, represents 43,000
churches from more than 70
denominations, as well as
numerous Christian schools
and organizations.

THE ALBEMARLE SUN-
DAY SCHOOL CONVEN-
TION BANQUET was held
on November 15, at 7 p.m.,

at the Sound View
Restaurant, in Washington
County. There were approx-
imately 70 in attendance.

After everyone enjoyed
the meal, the Convention
President, Gary Burbage,
welcomed everyone. The
Rev. Raymond Lagcher led
in prayer. All pastors,
superintendents, officers,
teachers, and their spouses
were welcomed, as were all
visitors.

The Rev. Charles Parrish
introduced the speaker for
the evening, Gary Burbage,
at the completion of the
congregational hymn, "I
Want to Be a Worker." Mr.
Burbage outlined the
responsibilities of Sunday
School workers and pointed
out the need for training
young people. He particular-
ly noted the importance of
making the church educa-
tional program interesting.

At the close of the
meeting, the eight ministers
in attendance prayed with
the teachers, assistants,
and officers present; the
Rev. Aubrey Williamson led
this prayer.

DRUG USE AMONG HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS
DROPS NEARLY 10 PER-
CENT SINCE 1979: Use of
marijuana and other drugs
by high school students in
the United States has
dropped nearly 10 percent
according to a research
study conducted by the
University of Michigan's In-
stitute for Social Research.
Marijuana use by high
school seniors stood at 51
percent in 1979 and had
dropped to 42 percent in
1983. This change repre-
sents an apparent change in

attitude by high school
seniors according to the
researchers who conducted
the study of 17,000
students. In 1983, 63 per-
cent of the high school
seniors believed that
regular use of marijuana
would he harmful as against
35 percent who felt this way
in 1978. A decline in the use
of other drugs such as am-
phetamines, barbiturates,
quaaludes, and LSD was
also in the University of
Michigan study. The use of
heroin and cocaine, how-
ever, remains virtually un-
changed since 1979. The
1983 senior high school
students who were sur-
veyed indicated that 16 per-
cent had used cocaine at
some time, nine percent had
experimented with some
sort of opiate other than
heroin and 1.2 had tried
using heroin. Daily use of
alcohol was reported by 5.5
percent of the seniors, but
41 percent had reported tak-
ing five or more drinks in a
row during a previous two-
week interval. Following a
sharp drop in cigarette
smoking between 1977 and
1980, cigarette smoking by
seniors has remained at a
relatively constant 21 per-
cent since then.

MORE TEENS TODAY
BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY
THAN FIVE YEARS AGO:
Today some 55 percent of
teens interviewed in a
Gallup poll indicated that
they believe in astrology,
compared with only 40 per-
cent in 1978. Overall, eight
out of every 10 teens in-
dicate that they believe in at
least one of eight super-
natural phenomena listed in
the survey. More teens, 69

percent, believe in angels
than any other supernatural
phenomena listed in the
survey. Younger teens, ages
13-15, had a greater tenden-
cy to believe in angels (73
percent) than older teens
(65 percent). Overall, belief
in angels among teens is up
five percent from 1978. Six
of every 10 teens believe in
extra sensory perception
(ESP). This marks a
decrease from 1978, when
67 percent said they be-
lieved in ESP. Astrology was
in third place in the 1984
list. More young teens (59
percent) and young women
(58 percent) believe in
astrology than the 55 per-
cent of teens as a whole.

ADDRESS CHANGE

Bass Mitchell, field
secretary for the North
Carolina Free Will Baptist
State Sunday School Con-
vention, has a new address
as of December 9, 1985. His
new address is: Route 7,
Box 471, Goldsboro, NC
27530.

MINISTERS AVAILABLE

The Rev. William Lit-
tleton, a member in good
standing with the Eastern
Conference, announces
that he will be available for
full-time pastoral work after
the second Sunday in
February. Anyone in-
terested in his services can
contact him by phoning
745-5310, or by writing to
him at the following ad-
dress: Box 81, Lowland, NC
28552.

The Rev. Robert Rollins is
also available for pastoral
services. Contact him by
writing to him at 109 Warren
Street, Goldsboro, NC
27530; phone 735-1037.

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 81 1 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159 Second-class postage paid ai Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents), residents of other states,
$8.50, $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches.
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., Monday — Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m. — 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday, New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m. — 5 p.m.; Monday — Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray. Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Robert Hadden, Production Manager; Janie Jones Sowers.
Editor of Literature.

January 1986

37

January 1, 1986

Dear Fellow Minister :

The Free Will Baptist Ministerial Association of North Carolina would like to
invite you to the annual Mid- Year Spiritual Life Banquet. This year's banquet will
be held on Friday, February 7, 1986. Mount Olive College will be our host for the
evening. Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the meal will be $6 per
person and will begin at 7 p.m. We look forward with great anticipation to our pro-
gram this year. The Rev. Fred A. Rivenbark from Durham will be the speaker.

We invite minister's widows to be our guests on this occasion. We ask our
ministers to help the Executive Committee extend to them a special invitation.
Ministers should complete the pre-registration form and send it with your $6 per
person to: Calvin A. Heath, Route 1, Box 288, Dunn, NC 28334, before January 29,
1986. Please make checks payable to: N.C. Ministerial Association.

The Executive Committee would also encourage our ministers to consider an
invitation by the General Baptist Minister's Conference to join with them in study
and fellowship May 20-22, 1986, at Cragmont Assembly.

In His service,
Calvin A. Heath, Secretary
N.C. Ministerial Association

PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
Mid-Year Spiritual Life Banquet
, will be attending the Banquet on February 7, and am sending

for the meal, and will have guest(s) with me.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL

YOU AND OTHERS

Usually at the end of the year, we all examine
the last twelve months. We think about our lives,
both the good things and the bad. We try to deter-
mine ways to make the bad things into good
things during the coming year, so that when we
reminisce next December, we will have no regrets.
Probably a great deal of our evaluation calls for us
to think about our personal relationships. We have
to come to grips with how we really feel about
others. Let's look at this a little closer; let's ask
ourselves how we really feel about other human
beings.

How you feel about others is important for
three reasons (among others): First, it affects— if
not determines— the way they feel about you. Sec-
ond, it has a lot to do with how much you enjoy
life. Third, it shows clearly your attitude toward
God.

Perhaps you are one of those Christians who
is attractive, warm, happy, friendly and outgoing.
You enjoy people and people enjoy you. You
have no social problems because you have good
rapport with the human race.

You may, by nature or environment, be social-
ly well-adjusted. Or this ability to make touch with
people may be the result of your personal relation-
ship with Jesus Christ. You have been delivered
from self, set free from its over-sensitivities and
demands for attention, and refocused so that your
first interest is reaching out and ministering to
others for Christ's sake, for this is not so much a
duty as a delight.

If a church has even a small minority of such
members, they can be a tremendous addition to
the local fellowship of Christians.

Perhaps you have decided that you don't
need people, that your life is full enough with your
family and other responsibilities. Or maybe peo-
ple have disappointed you. When you trusted
them, they let you down. Or perhaps you pretend
you don't need friends because you've been re-
jected in the past and don't want to risk that
failure again. It has been suggested by many
psychologists that people who claim to prefer to
be alone usually unconsciously resent others' not
accepting them. It's true that while some people
are naturally more outgoing and gregarious,
others are constitutionally content to be alone.

But there's a difference between solitude and
isolation. Everyone needs to know how to be

alone some of the time and enjoy it. There's
nothing unhealthy about liking to be alone at
times, but one is sick who prefers isola-
tion—complete separation from people.

Even though some rugged Christians may
profess no interest in being personally accepted
by others, this doesn't at all clear them of respon-
sibility toward the many who need and long for ac-
ceptance and friends.

It's certainly true that when you wall yourself
off from people, keep them at arm's length and act
as though you don't need or want any closer rela-
tionship, they sense it. The message gets
through, whether it registers consciously or un-
consciously. Folks learn that people are just not
your dish. You can do without them— and presto,
they can do without you.

Strangely enough, you may cloak this attitude
in a robe of super-piety: God has accepted you
and loves you, and that is quite enough for you!
Actually, such an attitude makes you quite snob-
bish—closed to people— and shuts you off from
opportunities to know and help meet personal
needs around you.

The truly spiritual Christian will be open,
available, reaching out to touch others. People in-
stinctively sense this availability and respond to
it. An attitude of relaxed openness to people can
come to you if you really want it. God can set you
free from yourself and make you simply able to be
interested in others; you can become open to
whatever relationships that openness might bring.

Each of us needs to remember that no one is
perfect. Back of any imperfection is a person— a
human being like ourselves, loved by God, one for
whom Christ died. And if this person is a believer
he is in a special way our brother in Christ. We are
members of the same family.

When you look at other Christians — any of
them— remember this: Whether you like or dislike
them, you belong to them and they belong to you.
You cannot decide whether you will be related to
them or not. You are already related to them in a
vital, supernatural, never-to-end way. We are not
separate units, but intimately related in Christ; we
are all members of one body, Christ's.

How much you enjoy life will depend to a
large degree in how much you enjoy the human
race— people in general, not just a chosen circle
of special friends.

January 1986

39

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

DURHAM

NC £7706

$12.95

Living
On The
Ragged Edge

Charles R. Swindoll

For all who are caught up in this rat race called life
For all who are pushing for more, more, more . . .
For all who are living on the ragged edge . . .
Here's straight talk on coping with life as it is.

In a world where success is measured by money, where "he who has the most toys wins," where anxiety,
pressure, ulcers and stress are as common as gray flannel suits, Charles R. Swindoll brings us some good
news— how to find joy and peace and happiness in the struggle! Exploring Solomon's ancient journal, Ec-
clesiastes, he offers new insights into the young king's quest to find pleasure in life under the sun— in
work, lust, money, "toys"— and why such a pursuit is like "trying to catch the wind."
Solomon's ancient journal is filled with comments and questions we all ask about the futility of life . . . the
emptiness, the disillusionment, the loneliness, the disappointments, the injustice of it all. But in twenty-
four straight-shooting chapters, Chuck Swindoll shows how to enjoy life— the bottom line of reality for
everyday living:

how to survive the rat race
how to "be bullish"
how to find wisdom
how to make the most of old age
• how to stop existing and start living

You'll see yourself in these pages as Chuck Swindoll explores the young monarch's desperate
search for something— anything— to satisfy. And best of all, you'll learn how to come to terms with reality
as you discover the special ingredient that can bring lasting satisfaction to all of us living on the ragged
edge.

40

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The Free Will

The Monthly Publication for Today's Christian

February 1986/$1.00

(J

oks are masters who instruct us without words or
anger, without bread or money. If you approach them, they are
not asleep. If you seek them, they do not hide, If y<
they do not scold. If you are ignoran

February, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 2

A New Day Dawning?

by Janie Jones Sowers

£ How to Preach so as to Convert Nobody

by Charles G. Finney

9

The Gossip Within

by John White

12

Where's the Money?

14

Parents Must Protect Children From Pornography

by Gary L. Bauer

DEPARTMENTS

17 Book News 24 Foreign Missions 32 State Youth Convention

18 Calendar 26 Sunday School Convention 34 Ministerial Association
20 Mount Olive College 28 Children's Home 35 Editorial

23 Home Missions 30 News Briefs

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

February 1986 3

I

First, let's examine our denominational
enterprises.

Enrollment at Mount Olive College reached
an all-time high during 1985, when the first
four-year class entered. (The first bac-
calaureate degrees are scheduled to be con-
ferred on May 9, 1986.) Two apartment
buildings were constructed on campus for addi-
tional student housing. The College attained
candidate status for the four-year program
from its accrediting agency, the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools. The much
needed work on the parking lot at College Hall
began. The College enjoyed a record year in
dinner gifts and was delighted that the Mount
Olive College Singers could participate in
President Reagan's inaugural activities. Lest
we forget, the College's four-year charter went
into space during the Spaceship Challenger's
April 29— May 6 flight.

The Fred Bakers and Willem van der
Plases completed language school last year
and moved back to Palawan, where Palawan
Bible Institute became Palawan Bible College.
The Foreign Missions Board sponsored the
World Missions Conference in March, with Dr.
Paul Smith as its speaker. The Foreign Mis-
sions Board embarked on a building program
for schools and congregations in India and
surveyed the possibilities of work in Nigeria.
(Such a work is not feasible at this time.) Dr.

Emmanuel Lall, director of the work in India,
and Mrs. Lall visited the United States during
the month of October and had an opportunity to
meet with many of our people.

The Grifton Mission bought its property
last year. Work was also begun on a deaf
ministry in Wilson and a new home mission
point in White ville. Dr. Jim Ponder spoke at
the annual Night of Evangelism Service and
the announcement of the Orvin B. Everett Sr.
Endowment for Home Missions was made dur-
ing the Missions Rally in September. The Home
Missions Board was also able to purchase two
thousand Bibles for the H'mongs. (They were
delivered to the Rev. Bob Harber on January
15.)

Cragmont Assembly became the proud
owners of a new walk-in freezer/cooler during
1985. This purchase permitted them to better
plan their food purchases and realize savings.
New programs and conferences were also
added to the facility's calendar.

Last year, the Free Will Baptist Children's
Home began its Friend of Children program.
The Retirement Homes and Board of Superan-
nuation also moved their offices. The Retire-
ment Homes office is now located in the Head-
quarters Building in Ayden, and the Superan-
nuation (or Ministers' Program) office moved
out of the Headquarters to Kinston.

The Sunday School Convention, Mount
Olive College, Board of Foreign Missions,
Board of Home Missions, and the Ministerial
Association jointly sponsored the Care and
Grow Seminar in April. Dr. Curtis Schofield
was the clinician.

The Convention itself adopted a five-year
plan and encouraged each denominational
enterprise to do the same. The Convention's
program is as follows:

I. One of the primary aims of the State Con-
vention during the five-year period, 1985-
1990, is to help those within and without
our denomination know who Original Free
Will Baptists are in light of our history,
our distinctiveness as a church, our be-
liefs, and our work as servant of all. In
order to achieve a new sense of identity,
we must:

A. Provide resources to make our people and
others aware of the vital role of Original
Free Will Baptists in the world, in history,
and at present.

B. Provide encouragement for total involve-
ment of Original Free Will Baptists in the
common goal of service.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

C. Promote the Original Free Will Baptist
Church through the public media and litera-
ture.

D. Use and encourage the use of our logo as a
mark of our identity.

II. A second aim calls for a new vitality

among our people, churches, conferences,
and the enterprises of the Original Free
Will Baptist Church. In order to achieve
this needed revitalization, we must:

A. Encourage a renewed emphasis on worship,
prayer, Bible reading and study.

B. Promote a focus on the servanthood of the
body of Christ, and members in particular
(1 Corinthians 12:27).

C. Provide and identify resources for leadership
development and training.

III. A third aim is growth. To expand the
ministry of the local churches, con-
ferences, and denomination, we must:

A. Encourage the local churches, conferences,
and enterprises to set goals for growth and
develop a program for their accomplish-
ment.

B. Provide and identify resources which will
enable Original Free Will Baptists to ef-
fectively plan and reach their goals for
growth.

IV. A fourth aim is unification. We must work
to unify Original Free Will Baptists by
involving the people, churches, confer-
ences, and enterprises in the shared
ministry of service. In order to achieve
a new sense of unification, the Executive
Committee must:

A. Co-ordinate the planning of the enterprises
in order that unity might be promoted and
we be found good stewards of our resources.

B. Provide opportunities for cooperative plan-
ning and promotion by churches, confer-
ences, and enterprises.

C. Keep our people fully informed regarding
the work and accomplishments of Original
Free Will Baptists.

D. Maintain an office in the Headquarters for
the purpose of promoting the Original Free
Will Baptist Church.

As its annual session, the Convention
adopted a logo. It is shown for you here.

When the figures of the church letters were
totaled, we did see a net increase for the year
ending June 30, 1985. The increase for the
denomination was 110. The trouble is, this in-
crease can be accounted for by five churches
which each had a net gain of twenty or more
new members. (The churches? Gum Swamp
Church, Marlboro Church, Tarboro Church,
Central Conference; Good News Church,
Rescue Church, Piedmont Conference.)

A careful examination of church records in-
dicates that only eighty-six of our churches
have increased in membership over the last ten
years. As a whole, we have lost over three
thousand members during that same time.

CONFERENCE

1975

1985

Albemarle

2222

1940

Cape Fear

4538

4013

Central

7594

7544

Eastern

10,719

9602

Pee Dee

1500

1675

Piedmont

898

724

Western

8267

7186

35,738

32,684

( Figures based on Yearbook figures, with approximately the same number of
churches reporting each year. )

We need to also realize that forty-nine per-
cent of our church members are forty-five and
older. Of those who are on our church rolls, a
maximum of forty-six percent are in church on
any given Sunday; only sixty-six percent are in
Sunday School.

This is scarey. Have we become more con-
cerned with property than souls? Are cushions
more important than converts? Has comfort
replaced commitment? What does it matter if
we belong to a church or are recognized by
some enterprise if we do not live out our faith?
Why should nearly all of our denominational
enterprise directors spend more time begging
for money than it would take to administer the
program we need if the money were available?
Aren't programs more important than raising
money? Souls are! Have we got too many peo-
ple employed? Should there be more results
from the money that does come in? Are ad-
ministration costs too high?

It is time that we seriously look at each
enterprise and determine whether or not it is
meeting the purpose for which it was estab-
lished. It is time that we as church members
look beyond ourselves, for it seems that we are
only concerned about ourselves— and perhaps
for our families. It is time that we do
something— and tomorrow it may be too late.

February 1986

5

This article by the well-known revivalist Charles Finney is adapted from the Ad-
vent Review and Herald of the Sabbath of July 29, 1875. The old-fashioned language
may betray how many years have gone by since it was written, but preachers who
follow these rules carefully can be certain of converting no one as were their col-
leagues of more than a century ago.

mi!

You don't want to be known as a negative preacher coming down
hard on sin and making your people feel bad, do you? The world is
too full of condemnation and stress as it is. What people need today
is an upbeat message that reassures and gives some positive rein-
forcement to their lives. Here are forty-two tried and proved rules that
are guaranteed to keep the sinners in your church comfortable and
happy.

by Charles G. Finney

The design of this article is to
propound several rules, by a
steady conformity to any one of
which, a man may preach so as
to convert nobody. It is general-
ly conceded at the present day
that the Holy Spirit converts
souls to Christ by means of
truth adapted to that end.

Rule 1. Let your supreme
motive be to secure your own
popularity; then, of course,
your preaching will be adapted
to that end, and not to convert
souls to Christ.

Rule 2. Aim at pleasing,
rather than at converting, your
hearers. Aim to make your
hearers pleased with
themselves and pleased with
you, and be careful not to
wound the feelings of anyone.

Rule 3. Aim at securing for
yourself the reputation of a
beautiful writer.

Rule 4. Let your sermons be
written with a high degree of
literary finish. Let your style be
flowery, ornate, and quite
above the comprehension of the
common people. Give your ser-
mons the form and substance of
a flowing, beautifully written,
but never-to-be-remembered
essay, so that your hearers will
say, "It was a beautiful ser-
mon," but can give no further
account of it.

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Rule 5. Be sparing of thought,
lest your sermon contain truth
enough to convert a soul. Make
no distinct points, and take up
no disturbing issues with the
consciences of your hearers,
lest they remember these
issues, and become alarmed
about their souls.

Rule 6. Avoid preaching doc-
trines that are offensive to the
carnal mind, lest they should
say of you as they said of
Christ, "This is an hard saying;
who can hear it?" and lest you
should injure your influence.

Rule 7. Denounce sin in the
abstract, but make no allusion
to the sins of your present au-
dience. Avoid especially
preaching to those who are
present. Preach about sinners,
and not to them. Say they, and
not you, lest anyone should
make a personal and saving ap-
plication of your subject.

Rule 8. Keep the spirituality
of God's holy Law, by which is
the knowledge of sin, out of
sight, lest the sinner should see
his lost condition, and flee from
the wrath to come.

Rule 9. Preach salvation by
grace; but ignore the con-
demned and lost condition of
the sinner, lest he should
understand what you mean by
grace, and feel his need of it.

Rule 10. Preach no searching
sermons, lest you convict and
convert the worldly members
of your church.

Rule 11. Do not make the im-
pression that God commands
your hearers now and here to
obey the truth.

Rule 12. Do not make the im-
pression that you expect your
hearers to commit themselves
upon the spot, and give their
hearts to God.

Rule 13. Leave the impres-
sion that they are expected to
go away in their sins, and to
consider the matter at their
convenience.

Rule 14. Dwell much upon
their inability to obey, and
leave the impression that they
must wait for God to change
their natures.

Rule 15. Make no appeals to
the fears of sinners; but leave
the impression that they have
no reason to fear.

Rule 16. Make the impression
that if God is as good as you are
He will send no one to Hell.

Rule 17. Preach the love of
God, but ignore the holiness of
His love that will by no means
clear the impenitent sinner.

Rule 18. Try to convert
sinners to Christ without pro-
ducing any uncomfortable con-
victions of sin.

(Turn the Page)

February 1986

7

Rule 19. Flatter the rich, so
as to repel the poor, and you
will convert none of either
class.

Rule 20. Make no disagree-
able allusions to the doctrines
for self-denial, cross-bearing,
and crucifixion to the world,
lest you should convict and con-
vert some of your church
members.

Rule 21. Do not rebuke the
worldly tendencies of the
church, lest you should hurt
their feelings, and finally con-
vert some of them.

Rule 22. Should any express
anxiety about their souls, do not
probe them by any uncomfor-
table allusion to their sin and ill
desert; but encourage them to
join the church at once, and ex-
hort them to assume their
perfect safety within the fold.

Rule 23. Preach the love of
Christ, not as enlightened
benevolence, that is holy, just,
and sin-hating; but as a senti-
ment, an involuntary and in-
discriminating fondness.

Rule 24. Be sure not to repre-
sent religion as a state of loving
self-sacrifice for God and
souls; but rather a free and
easy state of self-indulgence.
By thus doing you will prevent
sound conversions to Christ,
and convert your hearers to
yourself.

Rule 25. So select your
themes and so present them as
to attract and flatter the
wealthy, aristocratic, self-
indulgent, extravagant,
pleasure-seeking classes, and
you will not convert any of
them to the cross-bearing
religion of Christ.

Rule 26. Be time-serving, or
you will endanger your salary ;
and, besides, if you speak out
and are faithful, you may con-
vert somebody.

Rule 27. Do not preach with a
divine unction, lest your

preaching make a saving im-
pression. To avoid this, do not
maintain a close walk with
God, but rely upon your learn-
ing and study.

Rule 28. Lest you should pray
too much, engage in light
reading and worldly amuse-
ments.

Rule 29. That your people
may not think you in earnest to
save their souls, and, as a con-
sequence, heed your preaching,
encourage church fairs, lot-
teries, and other gambling and
worldly expedients to raise
money for church purposes.

Rule 30. Do not rebuke ex-
travagance in dress, lest you
should uncomfortably impress
your vain and worldly church
members.

Rule 31. Ridicule solemn
earnestness in pulling sinners
out of the fire, and recommend,
by precept and example, a
jovial, fun-loving religion, and
sinners will have little respect
for your serious preaching.

Rule 32. Cultivate a fastidious
taste in your people, by
avoiding all disagreeable allu-
sions to the last judgment and
final retribution. Treat such un-
comfortable doctrines as ob-
solete and out of place in these
days of Christian refinement.

Rule 33. Do not commit
yourself to much-needed
reforms, lest you should com-
promise your popularity and in-
jure your influence. Or you
may make some branch of out-
ward reform a hobby, and
dwell so much upon it as to
divert attention from the great
work of converting souls to
Christ.

Rule 34. So exhibit religion as
to encourage the selfish pursuit
of it. Make the impression upon
sinners that their own safety
and happiness is the supreme
motive of being religious.

Rule 35. Do not lay much
stress upon the efficacy or
necessity of prayer, lest the
Holy Spirit should be poured
out upon you and the congrega-
tion, and sinners should be con-
verted.

Rule 36. Make little or no im-
pression upon your hearers, so
that you can repeat your old
sermons often without being
noticed.

Rule 37. If your text suggests
any alarming thought, pass
lightly over it, and by no means
dwell upon and enforce it.

Rule 38. Avoid all illustration,
repetition, and emphatic
sentences that may compel
your people to remember what
you say.

Rule 39. Avoid all heat and
earnestness in your delivery,
lest you make the impression
that you really believe what
you say.

Rule 40. Be tame and timid in
presenting the claims of God,
as would become you in pre-
senting your own claims.

Rule 41. Be careful not to
testify from your own personal
experience of the power of the
gospel, lest you should produce
the conviction upon your
hearers that you have
something which they need.

Rule 42. See that you say
nothing that will appear to any
of your hearers to mean him or
her, unless it be something flat-
tering.

The experience of ministers who have steadily adhered to the
above rules will attest the soul-destroying efficacy of such a course,
and churches whose ministers have steadily conformed to any of
these rules can testify that such preaching does not convert souls to
Christ. If souls are converted in congregations cursed with such a
ministry, it will be by other means than the preaching.

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

THE GOSSIP WITHIN

by John White

If tearing down others is
a temptation, how can
we overcome it? It's one of
those tiny but disastrous
things like termites in the
rafters, a crack in a dam, a
lighted cigarette tossed into a
pine forest. Gossip shatters
friendships, ruins marriages,
breaks hearts, disrupts
churches. And it is a problem
that seems to be growing in
Christian circles.

We can practice the fine art
of gossip in several ways. If

we are not very expert, we
can adopt the candid, blunt
technique. We can say, "I
don't have much use for
Brother Brown," and then
give the reasons. We don't
hide our dislike ; we might
even add, "And I'd say so to
his face ! ' ' This may not hood-
wink anyone, but it sounds
good.

Or we can be more subtle— a
help in easing our consciences
if God has been speaking to us
about gossip. We can say,
"Yes, she is a nice girl. Pity
about her habit of . . ." and
then spend ten minutes of run-

ning her down in a kindly sort
of way.

The pseudospiritual ap-
proach offers variety. It might
begin, "Mary needs our
prayers. She has problems
with her temper." Then
follows a thorough analysis of
Mary's spiritual weaknesses,
so that others can pray "more
intelligently" about it, later
on.

We can pull someone to
pieces with pious platitudes.
Pastors and preachers are
particularly easy meat. We
can discuss their preaching,
their wives, their children. If
they dress badly, we can ask
what kind of testimony they
think it is to go round looking
like tramps. If they dress nice-
ly, we can wonder (aloud)
where they get the money. The
important thing, of course, is
to make it clear it is the
testimony we are worried
about.

But whether the approach is
direct or more subtle and
oblique— wrapped in layers of
pious phrases— backbiting is
still backbiting. Beneath this
apparent triviality lurks
danger. The Bible places a
gossip in the same bracket as
an alcoholic. Titus 2:3 bids the
older women "not to be
slanderers or slaves to drink."
In Paul's mind the one seems
as bad as the other.

Disparaging others does the
devil's work for him. He is the
"accuser of the brethren."
Gossip is even more effective
when it walks about disguised
as an angel of light.

When we put down someone,
we not only create tragedy for
others, we make difficulties
for ourselves in at least two
ways. First, others lose con-
fidence in us. Second, we
become abnormally conscious
(Turn the Page)

February 1986

9

of how others may be criticiz-
ing us. We become extrasen-
sitive to other people's opi-
nions.

I was very fond (and still
am ) of a Christian worker who
was always talking to me
about the failures of other
members of the group with
whom we worked. My con-
science protested, but I joined
in the conversation. By the
time I had known my friend
three months, I had learned of
the weaknesses of practically
every other member of the
team.

I don't remember when it
began, but after a while I
started feeling uneasy in my
friend's presence. If he pulled
other people to pieces when
talking to me, did he pull me
to pieces when talking to
them? One day I discovered
that he did. His criticisms of
me, given me secondhand,
shook me. Fortunately we
were able to discuss the prob-
lem frankly, and we both
learned a useful lesson. But
often no such happy solution
comes about. The intimacy
established as two friends pull
their acquaintances apart
proves illusory. And, in time,
it gives place to mutual dis-
trust.

Why do we gossip? Because
too often we find it enjoyable
to learn about and discuss peo-
ple's faults. "The words of a
whisperer are like delicious
morsels" (Proverbs 26:22).
The press discovered this long
ago. Scandal makes news. As
a British press lord put it
rather crudely, "There's
money in muck."

If we want to get at the root
of the problem of criticism in
Christian circles, we must ask
ourselves why we criticize and
gossip. What makes it so en-
joyable? Obviously it goes
back beyond lips. Critical
words always come from a

critical heart. "Out of the
abundance of the heart his
mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). If
we are full of critical feelings
toward other people, we won't
be able to stop putting these
feelings into words.

Some people criticize others
because they flatter
themselves that they are good
judges of character. If
Penelope (who is discerning)
analyzes her friends'
characters with Grace (who
judges character even more
discerningly), it is surprising
how much human weakness—
real or imaginary— they will
discover between them. And in

doing so their self-importance
will receive a big boost. So
beware of that ability to
assess character. It has its
dangers.

An unconscious sense of our
own failings and shortcomings
will also make us want to
criticize other people. Pulling
others to pieces will make us
feel better about ourselves. We
begin to feel we're not so bad
after all.

It's rather like the mental
mechanism that makes me en-
joy the naughtiness in other
people's children. Staying with
friends a short time ago, I
noticed a strained expression
on my hostess' face as her
two-year-old acted up. Finally
she said, "You must think
Tommy's awfully badly be-
haved. He's not usually quite
as bad as this."

"Not at all," I replied,
hiding my joy with effort. I
could afford to be gracious. I
was luxuriating in the relief of
knowing that my own children
must be pretty normal.

The love for creating a sen-
sation also makes us gossip.
Have you ever stumbled
across a bit of devastatingly
scandalous news about an im-
portant figure in somebody
else's church— the kind of
thing that calls for gasps and
tut- tuts? You could just imag-
ine how people would react
and how important you, the
newsbearer, would become.
And the more you thought
about the sensation it would
cause, the harder it became to
hold your tongue. So you final-
ly served it up with all the
trimmings, making out of
some man's personal tragedy
and his relatives' pain a
delicious feast of gossip.

Beneath all of the
mechanism we have discussed
lies one basic reason for
gossip. We gossip because we
fail to love. When we love peo-
ple, we don't criticize them.
"Love covers all offenses"
(Proverbs 10:12). If we love
them, their failures hurt. Paul
says, "Love . . . does not re-
joice at wrong" (1 Corinthians
13:5-6). We don't advertise the
sins of people we love any
more than we advertise our
own. In fact, if we love
somebody, we'll be very slow
even to believe wrong about
him or her. We'll be so anx-
ious to believe the best that
we'll be reluctant to face
facts. We'll automatically play
lawyer for the defense.

If tearing others down is a
temptation, how can we over-
come it? First, by not listening
to gossip or criticism. When
we listen we increase the
gossip's sense of importance.

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

We give him or her an au-
dience.

This is hard advice. We may
really want to listen. And it is
embarrassing to cut
someone's gossip off in
midstream. But we can be
tactful in the way we do it. We
might say, "Look, Bob, the
Lord's shown me that I have a
weakness for looking out for
other people's failures. He's
been dealing with me about it.
If you don't mind, we'd better

| change the subject." Make the

| break clean. We will have
made Bob search his own con-
science and what's more, it
will dawn on him someday
that if we won't listen to his
gossip about someone else,
neither will we listen to
someone else's gossip about
him. He'll respect us for it.

| My mother had an infallible

| method for coping with gossips
and critics. I'll never forget
the day when the lady next

i door was dripping vitriol about
the neighbor on the far side.
My mother took hold of her
neighbor's arm. "Come on,"
she said, "let's go and talk to

; her about it." It was the last
time our next door neighbor

: ever criticized another
neighbor in my mother's
presence.

She did the same with all the
neighbors. Did she miss out on
all the gossip? Well, maybe
she did. I never asked her. But
what she lost in back-fence
gossip she gained in outpoured

j confidences. The women knew
they could come to her with a
personal problem or a heart-
ache. They could trust her
tongue.

I also recommend dealing
with the feeling of criticism
while it's still unspoken. Is the
criticism real or imaginary?
Does it deal with some grave
sin in somebody, or is it just
something that grates us the
wrong way? Whichever it is,

we should take it to the Lord
before we talk to anyone else.
Read Proverbs 26:20 as you
pray: "For lack of wood the
fire goes out; and where there
is no whisperer, quarreling
ceases."

If our criticism concerns
Jim Black, let's go first to Jim
Black. Remember Paul's
recommendation in Galatians
about how we should approach
Jim. "You who are spiritual
should restore him in a spirit
of gentleness. Look to
yourself, lest you too be
tempted' ' ( Galatians 6:1).

It may be that distasteful in-
formation will have to be im-
parted to other Christians as
well. Their well-being and the
purity of the church may be
involved. But let us ask these
questions : Am I absolutely
sure of the facts? Is there any
beam in my own eye? Do I
love this person— not in word
only but in deed and truth?
What is the best way of deal-
ing with the problem? (The
best way will never be to spill
the beans to all your friends
first. ) Is there scriptural
direction on how to deal with
it?

Finally, if there is no need to
talk, be silent. Keep quiet
when the person's name
comes up. Ask God to set a
watch on your lips (Psalm
141:3).

Once a young man spread
around a piece of criticism

(which later proved only half-
true) about his elderly pastor
which split the church and
created a scandal. He later
apologized and asked the old
man what he could do to atone
for his wrong. The pastor
grabbed a feather pillow under
his arm and took the fellow to
the top of the church tower.
Wind tugged at their hair,
flapping their coattails against
their legs as they looked giddi-
ly at the village and fields
below them. The pastor
handed the young man the
pillow.

"Rip it open," he said.

The boy was perplexed. But
he did what he was told. In-
stantly the wind seized the
feathers, tossing them in flur-
ries into the air. A cloud of
feathers whirled about their
heads, then spread far and
wide as thousands of feathers
began falling beyond the
village, settling on sidewalks,
in hedges, in streams, in trees,
among deep grass.

"Now," said the pastor, "go
and collect all the feathers and
put them back in the pillow."

"Allot them?"

"AZZof them."

"But that's impossible!"

Placing his hand on the
young boy's shoulder, the
pastor said kindly, "I know. I
just wanted you to realize how
impossible it is to retrieve a
criticism once spoken."

When you are tempted to
criticize another person,
remember this story. "He who
goes about as a talebearer
reveals secrets, but he who is
trustworthy in spirit keeps a
thing hidden" (Proverbs
11:13).

This article, which appeared
first in Inter- Varsity, Winter,
1984, is taken from John
White's book, The Race,
published by Inter- Varsity
Press, 1984.

February 1986

11

Where's

Money?

wL-xGDWL-J entrusts us with
our money— He calls for us to be
wise stewards. We should know
where it's going, but chances
are we do not. Following
are some helpful
thoughts on money
management.

Where's the beef?
Over and over we
have heard this question dur-
ing the last few months. But if
you are like I am, my question
is a different one. Instead of
asking where the beef is, I
usually want to know where
the money went. This is par-
ticularly true during the
holidays and whenever April
15 nears.

If we were to look at this, we
would know that money does
not disappear into thin air. It

leaves our hands, while we are
still fully conscious. We spend
it on housing, food, shelter,
clothes, medical care,
transportation, gifts, vaca-
tions, education and a host of
other legitimate expenses.
Most of us, however, would
have to admit that we spend a
good amount of money for
many things that do not help
us reach our goals of being
generous givers and faithful
savers.

After a group of young
churchmen decided to record

everything for which they
spent money during a given
week, one young professional
publicly admitted that he was
shocked to find out that he had
spent over $50 in cash during
the week, and had nothing to
really show for it. His calcula-
tions told him that he was
wasting over $2,500 a year for
things that didn't help reach
any financial goals.

Before continuing, we might
do well to consider what
instruction on managing

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

money we received as a child.
Maybe we need to talk about
Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a
child in the way he should go,
and when he is old, he will not
depart from it," and apply it
to financial management, too.
We need to discuss the respon-
sibility parents have of setting
good examples in biblical
money management for
children and training them to
be good stewards of all that
God entrusts them.

One father became quite
concerned about teaching his
children to be responsible. His
son played the violin in the
junior high orchestra. He was
practicing faithfully when the
violin teacher approached the
family and suggested that the
boy could profit from a better
and more expensive violin.
The father, who did not want
to buy outright everything for
his son, went to a minister for
counsel. Since the son was
quite young and unable to earn
much, the father wondered
what should be done about the
violin. The minister asked if
the boy had been faithful with
the violin he had. Had he kept
it in good repair, treated it
well, and done the best he
could with it? The father
replied that he certainly had.
The minister then suggested
that the boy be given the
better, more expensive violin,
explaining that he had been
faithful with a little (the old
violin), and therefore he could
be trusted to be faithful with
much (the new and more ex-
pensive violin). The biblical
principle for such action? See
Luke 16:10.

Parents are responsible for
teaching their children to han-
dle money and their posses-
sions in a faithful manner. One
step in this is to teach them
Luke 16 : 10 and then the mean-

ing of it as they learn to han-
dle greater responsibility. It
can also be used to teach
about the results of lying,
cheating and dishonesty, and
help the youngster understand
that the smallest slips in in-
tegrity are of great concern to
the Lord— as well as to the
parents.

Where's your money going?
To find out, set up a spending
plan. Then keep some records
to see how you are doing com-
pared to your plan. The results
will also enable you to reach
goals for balanced giving,
spending and saving! Oh yes,
remember that if the 90 per-
cent that we call "ours" is out
of order, the 10 percent that is
the Lord's is in jeopardy!

I it \

]■■

VERSES FOR
MANAGEMENT

The following Bible verses
speak pretty loudly about
financial matters. We would
all do well to memorize and
practice them.

1. Motivation for Budgeting.
"He who is faithful in a very
little is faithful also in much;
and he who is dishonest in a
very little is dishonest in
much" (Luke 16:10, RSV).
Keep track of all the money
spent— by every member of
the family. Your records will
provide you with an idea of ex-
actly what is happening.

2. How to Budget. "Any
enterprise is built by wise

planning, becomes strong
through common sense, and
profits wonderfully by keeping
abreast of the facts" (Prov-
erbs 24:3-4, LB).

3. Setting up the Budget
Book. "And make do with your
pay!" (Luke 3:14c, NEB.)

4. Financial Questions.
"Steady plodding brings pros-
perity. Hasty speculation
brings poverty" (Proverbs
21:5, LB).

5. Saving. "The wise man
saves for the future, but the
foolish man spends whatever
he gets" (Proverbs 21:20, LB).

6. The Debt Trap. "Keep out
of debt altogether ..."
(Romans 13:8a, Phillips).

7. Escaping the Debt Trap.
"For the moment all discipline
seems painful rather than
pleasant; later it yields the
peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained
by it" (Hebrews 12:11, RSV).

8. Houses. "But all things
should be done decently and in
order" (1 Corinthians 14:40,
RSV).

9. Giving. "Upon the first
day of the week let every one
of you lay by him in store, as
God hath prospered him that
there be no gatherings when I
come" (1 Corinthians 16:2,
KJV).

10. Biblical Financial Prin-
ciples. "But seek first his
kingdom and his righteous-
ness, and all these things shall
be yours as well" (Matthew
6:33, RSV).

This article does not intend to be the
all and end all on finances. For fur-
ther reading on the subject, see You
Can Be Financially Free and You Can
Beat the Money Squeeze, both written
by George Fooshee. The George
Fooshees have also created a video
teaching series on "Personal Money
Management" which applies biblical
principles to managing personal
finances. This is available from
Harvest Communications, Inc., 222
North Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214, (316)
262-0732.

February 1986

13

PARENTS MUST PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM PORNOGRAPHY

by Gary L. Bauer

The following speech was made by U.S. Under Secretary
of Education Gary L. Bauer before the Third Annual National
Consultation on Pornography, in Cincinnati.

Mark Twain said, ' 'Man is the only blushing
animal— and the only one that needs to."

Surely the topic which concerns us all here
tonight is no laughing matter. But the truth
pointed to by Twain can serve to light our way in
thinking about pornography. Man is the only
animal who can, through his actions, become
lower than what he is, who can degrade himself.
Pornography corrodes the very concept of
Western man in his freedom and his greatness.

It is a blight upon our public life : It invades
our homes and schools, it demeans us all as
human beings, and— if not checked— could
threaten the moral fabric of our society.

George Will has observed that having
children is the great "conservatizing
experience" of our lives. Our children connect us
to the future, to the fate of civilization, and to
each other in our public concerns. All parents,
regardless of their political affiliation or
ideology, are concerned with the formative in-
fluences which shape their children's lives— or,
as I would prefer to say, influences which incline
their souls toward virtue or vice.

You know, it makes all the difference what
children are pleased or pained by— common
sense as well as great philosophers such as Plato
tell us that this is true.

Porn Threatens Children's Souls

Parents, then, want to maximize the good in-
fluences and minimize the bad. That is our in-
clination, that is our intuition, that is our respon-
sibility. We are our children's link to the past, to
the great moral tradition of Western Civilization
found in the texts of philosophers and poets and
in the sacred texts of the Judeo-Christian tradi-
tion. We parents are, as Secretary [of Education

William] Bennett likes to say, their "first
teachers."

Pornography threatens our children's souls.
Those who profit from pornography deserve our
contempt as well as legal prosecution.

When pornography is protected in the name
of "freedom," our children receive a very dis-
turbing message : since pornography is defended
by an appeal to lofty constitutional principles,
our children receive an even more disturbing
message: that pornography is one of the "bless-
ings of liberty" that our Constitution seeks to
protect.

The truth of course is the opposite: The
depiction of human behavior in pornographic
material robs our children of any elevated notion
of what is highest in our nature. To witness the
treatment of other human beings as objects for
the gratification of the appetite has a morally
numbing effect.

Dr. Frederick Wertham, former senior
psychiatrist for the Department of Hospitals in
New York City, conducted a 10-year study of the
effect of so-called comic books with a heavy em-
phasis on sex and violence on children. In this
study, called "The Seduction of the Innocent,"
Dr. Wertham says this material results in
"moral disarmament."

Subtle Influence More Detrimental?

He added, "The more subtle this influence is,
the more detrimental it may be. It has an in-
fluence on character, on attitude, on the higher
functions . . . and on the intuitive feeling for right
and wrong. To put it more concretely, it consists
chiefly of blunting of the finer feelings of con-
science, of mercy, of feeling for other people's
suffering and of respect for women as women
and not merely as sex objects to be bandied
around or as luxury prizes to be fought over."

Many of you here could provide testimony
that would be examples of the effect of por-
nography on behavior. What I would like to
underscore is the subtle influence found on nor-
mal children, effects that bear on attitudes, on
learning, on character— those qualities of the
soul that make it possible for us to pursue hap-
piness and to pursue it well. What do we do to in-
oculate children from this insidious appeal of
pornographic material?

Our schools must join us in setting into mo-
tion a concerted effort to build character and
transmit values. Are not the people of the future,
in the persons of our children, our most precious
national resource? Shouldn't then, we be about
the business of "cleaning up the environment"

14

THE FREE WELL BAPTIST

which affects them in such fundamental ways?
And how do we begin this work?

Parents Are Children's First Teachers

Let me offer these observations :

First, we need to be more involved with our
children. (It may seem incredible, but research
tells us that, on average, mothers spend four to
seven minutes a day educating their children;
fathers, zero to one minute. ) What are we saying
to our children if we allow them to spend more
time watching television by the time they are six
than they will spend talking with their fathers
the rest of their lives?

Second, we need to be attentive to how we
teach our children. We teach them as much by
our example as we do by what we tell them.
Tolstoy said "We cannot find our morality in in-
tellectual discourse, but only as we live it day to
day." By the same token, children discover our
virtues in the way we conduct ourselves.

We need to be examples to our children in
what we read, in what we take pleasure in, in
what we are pained by, in what we have
dedicated ourselves to.

It is simply not enough, nor is it effective,
after a while, to insist that certain things are
bad, should be banned, and should be avoided;
we need to fortify our children against evil by
helping them develop habits and virtues which
will lead them to taking pleasure in doing what's
right.

The "character ecology movement,"
however, cannot just stop with the messages we
give our children about their private behavior.
We must help them see the connection between
private virtue and public responsibility.

Self-government has a double meaning. How
can we maintain a free, that is, a self-governing
community, if the people of that community are
unable to govern their own souls? Nothing is
more outrageous than hearing the purveyors of
filth wrap themselves in the Constitution and ac-
cuse the millions of decent men and women in
communities across the land of being a threat to
liberty. They have it exactly backwards.

Harry Clor, in his book, Obscenity and
Public Morality, put it this way:

Democracy cannot be characterized simply as the
maximization of individual liberty in every area of life.
And there are attributes and requisites of republican
government which are not adequately expressed in the
single word "freedom."

The enterprise of self-government requires mutual
respect and certain capacities for self-restraint, or as
these things used to be called, "civility." It depends
upon a citizen body the members of which will devote
their energies to long-range public interests and who

can, when necessary, sacrifice personal comforts and
personal satisfactions, perhaps personal happiness, for
vital public interest.

A people devoted exclusively to the satisfaction of
sensual appetites is not strictly a citizen body at all. It is
a collection of private individuals, each concerned with
his private gratifications.

Laws Bent in Favor of the Lascivious

Those like the American Civil Liberties
Union who would insist upon legal protection be-
ing accorded pornographic material need to
reflect upon the fact that in a democracy, the
laws must have the support of public opinion to
retain their effectiveness. How long will the de-
mand that we "respect the laws" and that we
respect the liberty of others command assent,
when the laws seem bent in favor of the lewd and
lascivious? Especially when those same laws
discriminate against those children who seek to
pray in our public schools? Or against those
teachers who would have the Ten Command-
ments on display in classrooms?

Pornography is a threat to our democratic
way of life. It is also a threat to the larger cause
of Western culture.

Let's make no mistake: The battle that we
are fighting against pornography, for our
children, for our country, also involves the fate
of civilization as we know it. For in the name of
"freedom," pornography may succeed in cutting
us loose from the cultural moorings which are
the conditions of freedom. The first such moor-
ing is surely the knowledge that we are all made
in the image of God. That recognition is the basis
of our moral and political claims on each
other— to be treated as equals with inalienable
rights. When we forget this common basis of
dignity, our disagreements become simple con-
tests of wills, of might against might. How long
can government, by consent of the governed,
survive in such a world where might makes
right? For how long will our liberties remain
secure?

Schools Do Teach Values

All of what I have suggested so far has im-
plications for our schools. What is the role of our
schools in this battle to clean up the pollution of
pornography? How can they support our efforts
in the teaching of virtue to our children?

First, our schools must drop the ridiculous
notion that it is possible to teach without
teaching values. Every time an adult is with a
child, values are passed on— for better or worse.
Every assignment made, every book read or ig-
nored says something to a child about what an
adult thinks is important.

(Turn the Page)

February 1986

15

Second, the schools need to examine their
own curricula to see if there is anything they
might be doing which contributes to the per-
vasive cynicism about the standards of right and
wrong.

Are they, for instance, teaching that all
"value judgements" are relative? The
widespread and unthinking acceptance of this
belief speaks volumes about the crisis of our
times.

The noted theologian, Richard Neuhaus,
spells out the implications of moral relativism:
In the absence of values, he says, "a society can
neither be preserved nor transformed in
response to a compelling moral vision.

"In a decadent society no Martin Luther
King can proclaim a dream that has a claim
upon us, for decadence is also the death of nor-
mative dreams. All dreams and truths are equal,
reflecting no more than individual interest and
personal preference. The only truth is that there
are no universal truths ; the only absolute is that
all things are relative."

'Values Clarification' Morally Disarming

An example of how this mindless relativism
affects school curriculum is in the values
clarification curriculum that became popular in
the late '70s. One popular values clarification
course offered this dilemma to our children:

"Your husband or wife is a very attractive
person. Your best friend is very attracted to him
or her. How would you want them to behave?
[The only three choices given were : ]

"a. Maintain a clandestine relationship so you
wouldn't know about it.

"b. Be honest and accept the reality of the relation-
ship.

"c. Proceed with a divorce."

Education Secretary Bennett and Edwin
Delattre provide the following analysis of the ex-
ercise:

"Typically, the spouse and best friend are
presented as having desires they will eventually
satisfy anyway; the student is offered only
choices that presuppose their relationship. All
possibilities for self-restraint, fidelity, regard for
others, or respect for mutual relationship and
commitments are ignored."

We must challenge such efforts as "value-
neutral" education. They are in fact morally
disarming and intellectually bankrupt. We must
ask instead for a return to virtue and serious
learning.

Summarizing this need, President Reagan
said recently :

"If we give our children no guidance here— if
we give them only a value-neutral educa-
tion—we're robbing them of their most precious
inheritance : the wisdom of generations that is
contained in our moral heritage."

And the President is echoing America's
parents : the teaching of right and wrong is rated
as important by the parents as the ability to
speak and write correctly.

Young people typically say that they admire
people who "stand up for what they believe in."
Our task, in partnership with our schools, is to
lead them to an understanding of why we must
stand up, as those who care for them, and say
"No." So that they can say "No" to those temp-
tations of the soul that tempt us to be less than we
can be. We must give children again the
courage— the capacity in judgment and will— to
stand fast in the face of false pleasure.

Stand Together

Let us stand, then, as our children's first
teachers along with those adults to whom we en-
trust our children ; let us make clear that we all
intend to stand together— for discipline, for
character, for hard work, for virtue.

If we stand together, our children will see
themselves as a part of the great march of
Western Civilization. They will begin to ap-
preciate the great literature which inspires and
instructs the imagination in the struggle of man
to realize what he is in the highest sense. And we
hope that they will come to those truths spoken of
in the Scriptures and hold them in their hearts
forever. If their hearts and minds be fixed on
these most lofty and permanent of things, we
will, with God's grace, have armed them for life.

That is what we should require of ourselves
and demand of our schools, and there is nothing
in the Constitution that prohibits us from in-
sisting on it.

Alexis de Tocqueville in his classic,
Democracy in America, said that in a free socie-
ty "it is ever the duty of lawgivers and of all
upright educated men to raise up souls of their
fellow citizens and turn their attention toward
Heaven. There is a need for all who are in-
terested in the future of democratic societies to
get together and with one accord to make con-
tinual efforts to propagate throughout society a
taste for the infinite, an appreciation of
greatness, and a love of spiritual pleasures."

His advice is old but is not out of date. It re-
mains our charge today. Our charge is to
educate our children to virtue— to teach them to
love the things we love, and to honor the things
we honor. Nothing else will do.

16

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

How to Help the
Elderly Avoid Institutions

A GUIDE TO
COMPASSIONATE CARE
OF THE AGING

In this invaluable guidebook,
John Gillies offers several
alternatives to the traditional
retirement home — programs
for compassionate care that
are already in effect and can be
easily duplicated or modified
for specific applications. After
having interviewed the various
directors and participants,
Gillies provides case studies of
and details on the best of these
programs in A Guide to Com-
passionate Care of the Aging.

Included are facts on in-
novative approaches to housing
that allow the elderly to stay at
home through varied services;
activity centers ; education ser-
vices; and medical, transporta-
tion, and meal services.

Also outlined are pastoral
ministries— "Senior Tuesdays"
and "chautauquas" put on by
local churches which help keep
the elderly involved and their
minds young and active.

A Guide to Compassionate
Care of the Aging is Gillies'
second book dealing with the
elderly. He is also the author of
A Guide to Caring for and Cop-
ing with Aging Parents, a per-
sonal guidebook describing the
best ways adult children can
learn to care for their maturing
parents.

John Gillies has been involved for
several years with the Church World
Service and the Texas Department of
Human Resources, with emphasis on
the needs of the elderly. He also served
as a lay communications missionary in
Brazil. — (Trade Paperback, $6.95)

The Secrets of Seeking Peace

PEACEFUL LIVING IN A
STRESSFUL WORLD

At last, here's a book that
goes beyond the passive call to
personal peace— the assump-
tion that inner peace simply
"happens." Author Ronald
Hutchcraft calls us to active
pursuit of peace with God.

The stumbling block to peace
today is stress. It gives us the
impression that our lives are
going nowhere: like a gerbil
running in its wheel cage.
Peaceful Living in a Stressful
World identifies positive, God-
centered steps we can take to
circumvent the epidemic-sized
problem; we need to treat the
causes of stress rather than the
symptoms.

This cheerfully upbeat book
is strong, effective medicine for
those suffering the ravages of
stress ; it will help lead readers
to a state of tranquility that is
literally divine.

Ronald Hutchcraft is Executive
Director of the Metropolitan New
York/New Jersey Youth for Christ and
Area Director of the Chicago Youth for
Christ. In addition, he is the author of
the National Youth for Christ Ministry
Resource Manual, hosts a weekly radio
program, is a popular camp and con-
ference speaker. —(Hardcover, $10.95)

Honest, Hilarious Letters
from Kids

DEAR GRANDMA

Bill Adler, the writer and
lliterary agent whose collec-
tions of kids' letters have prov-
en popular with both children
and adults, has compiled
another book containing more
down-to-earth and heart-
warming selections. Entitled
Dear Grandma, Adler' s book
features children ages 3 to 5
pouring out their hearts to their
grandmothers.

Like Dear Lord and Dear
Pastor, Adler' s previous books,
Dear Grandma shows kids at
their finest, writing letters in
which they ask innocent ques-
tions, making amazingly
honest statements, and always
bring a giggle from everyone
who appreciates the humor and
unintentional candor of
childhood.

Some of the innocent ques-
tions the kids ask their grand-
mothers include: "How old is
the Bible, Grandma? Did you
read the first one?" Ralph of
Norfolk, Virginia, asks his
grandmother: "Did you ever
ride in a covered wagon? Was it
more fun than a Greyhound
bus?"

The candor of childhood is
represented in some of these
letters: "Dear Nanny, I hope
you don't have any more aches
and pains. I only have one pain
and it is my big sister." "Dear
Grandma, I will remember you
in my prayers even if you
forget my birthday, which is
tomorrow. Love, Phillip."

With over forty illustrations,
Dear Grandma is an ideal book
for Grandparent's Day and
birthdays. — (Hardcover, $4.95)

These books, published by Thomas
Nelson Publishers, are available
through the Free Will Baptist Press
Foundation and its branch stores.

February 1986

17

Saturday 1

i

Leviticus 1-3

8

Leviticus 19-21

15

Numbers 7

22

Numbers 21-22

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
"m 25 26 27 28 29

IA
w

Friday

7

Leviticus 16-18

14

Numbers 5-6

21

Numbers 19-20

28

Numbers 34-36

nation Month.

00

Thursday

6

Leviticus 14-15

13

Numbers 3-4

20

Numbers 16-18

27

Numbers 32-33

FEBRUARY

Wednesday

5

Leviticus 11-13

12

Numbers 1-2

19

Numbers 14-15

26

Numbers 30-31

iristian Edi

Tuesday

4

Leviticus 9-10

11

Leviticus 26-27

18

Numbers 12-13

25

Numbers 28-29

ruary is Cli

Monday

3

Leviticus 7-8

10

Leviticus 24-25

17

Numbers 10-11

24

Numbers 26-27

Febi

| Sunday

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

12 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31

2

Leviticus 4-6

9

Leviticus 22-23

16

Numbers 8-9

23

Numbers 23-25

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE]

JUDY TYNDALL—
GROWING WITH MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information
Mount Olive College

Mount Olive College is grow-
ing. Casual observers passing
by can see the formation of the
new parking lot for College Hall
and the additional student hous-
ing silhouetted against the
campus skyline.

What the observer cannot see
are the young people who are
helping shape the future of
Mount Olive. Judy Tyndall, a
member of Piney Grove
Church in Duplin County, is one
of those people. She is both a
student and part-time worker
at North Carolina's newest
private four-year college.

"The fall semester has kept
me moving with a full schedule
of classes during the day, two
night classes and working part
time," she says. "I have had all
good teachers and I'm working
toward an accounting degree.
After graduation I plan to work
under a CPA and then take the
CPA exam."

A student who regularly
makes the Dean's List, Miss
Tyndall carries a 4.0 average
for the fall semester. She is a
marshal and a member of Phi
Beta Lambda business
organization and Phi Theta
Kappa honor society. For her

academic honors project Miss
Tyndall tutors sophomores,
juniors and seniors in Ac-
counting I and II classes.

"I developed a chart that I
use in the accounting classes
that shows the classification of
accounts," says Miss Tyndall.
"The chart gives the students
something that explains why
accounting works the way it
does— and isn't just theory."

The attractive junior also
works 12 to 15 hours a week in
the business and financial aid
offices of the College— in the
jobs she held full-time during
the summer.

"Summer brings the height
of activity in the business of-
fice," says James A. Coats,
vice president for finance and
treasurer at Mount Olive.
"Planning, purchasing and
preparations are all done dur-
ing the summer, and we always
need help. We asked Judy to
work because she is super in-
telligent, a hard worker and
will get the job done."

Miss Tyndall feels that her
work at the College is helping
her develop a career in
business.

"Between my summer work
and the part-time work I have
had experience in all business
areas," explains Miss Tyndall.

"I have provided backup for
the cashier and the secretaries,
answered the phone, typed pur-
chase orders and letters, and
hosted visitors. In addition, I
worked in the College book-
store—waiting on customers,
sorting books, and repricing
used books."

In her work in the financial
aid office, Miss Tyndall helps to
organize the information on
scholarships, the work study
program, and federal and state
loans which are available at
Mount Olive College.

"The financial aid office
assists students in funding their
education," she says. "That
means the College puts
together a package of aid to fit
the individual's needs. Finan-
cial aid award letters need to be
typed, information forms filled
out and the 'packages' made
up. I enjoy the work and might
work toward a career in the
field of financial aid."

This outstanding young
woman still finds time to par-
ticipate in her church ac-
tivities. She sings with the
"Sonshine Singers" and
teaches the Junior Sunday
School Class.

"We have sung at revivals
and at Sunday morning ser-
vices," says Miss Tyndall.

She is the daughter of Bobby
and Hazel Tyndall of Dudley,
North Carolina, and has two
sisters, Peggy and Cathy. Mrs.
Tyndall directs activities at
Eagles Nest Outdoor Con-
ference Center.

MAKE YOUR COLLEGE
PLANS TODAY

Now is the time that many
students begin to make plans to
attend college. Anyone in-
terested in enrolling in college
is invited to visit the Mount
Olive College campus at any
time. To make an appoint-
ment contact Dianne B. Riley,

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

director of Admissions, in the
Henderson Building.

A Visitation Day is planned
for the middle of April— date to
be announced. Everyone is
welcome !

Free Will Baptists are
reminded that church
members attending Mount
Olive College on a full-time
basis are elfgible for a yearly
$1,500 Free Will Baptist Tuition
Grant. In addition, full-time
North Carolina students will
receive the Legislative Tuition
Grant of $950. Individual finan-
cial aid packages are available
through the Financial Aid Of-
fice. For information, write or
call Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365 (telephone 919/658-2502).

1985 — A SUCCESSFUL
YEAR FOR MOC

Mount Olive College faced a
multitude of challenges in 1985
as it launched a new four-year
program. The College met last
year's challenges and is on the
way to making 1986 an even
greater year.

The newest four-year private
college in North Carolina,
Mount Olive added its historic
first senior class in the fall. The
seniors are slated to graduate
in May. Enrollment set an all-
time high of 472 students in on-
campus programs and 216 in
extension programs, for a total
student body of 688.

With the new baccalaureate
degree programs came the ap-
pointment of five professors
with doctor's degrees. They are
Dr. Charles Phillips, English;
Dr. William Huffman,
psychology; Dr. James White,
business; Dr. Ram Verma,
mathematics; and Dr. Ron
Mendell, recreation studies.
Currently three other members
of the College faculty are pur-
suing their doctoral
studies— Elizabeth Braswell in
English, James Coats in

business, and Willis Brown in
science. They expect to com-
plete their studies by early
1986.

A major requirement for the
senior college program is the
development of the library.
During the year, 3,000 volumes
were added to the library bring-
ing the total collection to 40,000.
A schedule was set for acquir-
ing an additional 10,000 new
books needed by 1988.

Computers were purchased
for a second computer lab.
Most administrative areas of
the College have also begun us-
ing computers for the day-to-
day operations.

A new office in Career Plan-
ning was added to assist
students in their career choices
and in job placement.

Physical growth was evident
during the summer. Two new
apartment complexes were
constructed to accommodate
the growing student body, and a
major parking lot for College
Hall was prepared.

Perhaps one of the greatest
challenges came in October
with the announcement of a
$500,000 challenge grant. The
College must raise an equal
amount for endowment to
qualify for the grant.

In sports, Mount Olive Col-
lege moved from junior college
status to the four-year ranks,
joining the National Associa-
tion of Intercollegiate
Athletics. Men's soccer, and
women's volleyball and tennis
will be added to the inter-
collegiate program in 1986.

"This year has witnessed a
growing enthusiasm and com-
mitment toward making Mount
Olive a great Christian
college," says Dr. W. Burkette
Raper, president of Mount
Olive College. "Our work is not
complete. We are, indeed,
preparing to make 1986 an even
greater year! "

FREE WILL BAPTIST
STUDENTS NAMED TO
DEAN'S LIST

Forty Free Will Baptist
students have been named to
the Dean's List at Mount Olive
College. The Dean's List is
published twice a year and
honors students who attain high
scholastic standing. To qualify,
students must be attending full-
time, have a grade point
average of 3.2 or higher, and
have no grade lower than a "C"
for the semester. Also, several
students received academic
distinction by earning perfect
4.0 grade point averages.

Those listed on the Dean's
List are, from Beaufort Coun-
ty: Vanessa D. Davis, Sidney
Church; Craven County:
Michael Hodges (4.0), Juniper
Chapel Church; Victor T. Jones
Jr., New Haven Church; Duplin
County: Junie C. Harper,
Tanya Newson (4.0) and Judy
Tyndall (4.0), all of Piney
Grove Church; Cathy
Crumpler and Faye Reardon,
both of Snow Hill Church.

Students listed from Johnston
County: Jeffrey D. James,
Everett Chapel Church; Laura
Langdon, Hopewell Church;
Joyce T. Wall (4.0) and Ruby
M. Wall, both of Micro Church;
Timothy E. Woodard, Rains
Cross Roads Church; Lenoir
County: Angela D. Shivar,
Gray Branch Church; Teresa
K. Hines (4.0), Kinston First
Church.

In Onslow County: Tammy
Marshburn and Beverly D.
Rouse (4.0), both of Mount Zion
Church; Pamlico County:
Tracy D. Caroon, Mount Zion
Church; Pitt County: Wallie
Hargrove, Elm Grove Church;
Sampson County: Oliver P.
Godwin, Robin L. Honeycutt
and Pandora R. Tyndall, all of
Shady Grove Church; Tyrrell
County: Jeffrey A. Howett,
Sound Side Church; Union
(Turn the Page)

February 1986

21

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE!

County: Melissa D. Carver,
Heritage Church.

Students listed on the Dean's
List from Wayne County:
Charles I. Barnard, Jackie Bar-
nard and Donna E. Perry, all of
Casey's Chapel Church;
W. Gary Tyner, Grants Chapel
Church; Kelvin J. Coates,
Terry G. Coates, M. Andrew
Overman and Robert J. Over-
man, III, all of May's Chapel
Church; David W. Rigsby, Liv-
ing Waters Church; Marcy A.
Greenup, Pleasant Grove
Church; Patricia A. Bunn,
Pleasant Hill Church; Sheila R.
Mitchell, Spring Hill Church;
Janet D. Pridgen and Vicki S.
Pridgen, both of Stoney Creek
Church; Wilson County: Lisa
D. Godwin, Daniels Chapel
Church; Anne M. Bass, Wilson
First Church.

The faculty and trustees of
Mount Olive College con-
gratulate these outstanding
scholars !

ENDOWMENT APPRECIATION DAY LUNCHEON
Saturday, February 22, 1986
12:00 P.M., College Hall

Endowment Appreciation Day is an occasion to honor and
memorialize those in whose names endowments have been
established. Certificates will be presented for approximately fif-
ty new funds which have been established during the past year.

The event is open to the public, but since it includes a lun-
cheon, reservations will be necessary. Interested persons are in-
vited to write or call Mrs. Jean F. Ackiss, Director of Church Sup-
port, Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365
(phone 919/658-2502).

An important endowment announcement is expected.

"MISS MARY" MAKES QUILTS FOR COLLEGE ENDOWMENT— Mrs. Mary F.
Aldridge of Snow Hill, a member of Hull Road Church, found a creative way to help
Mount Olive College raise matching gifts for an endowment grant. She handcrafted a
beautiful quilt for the benefit of her endowment fund at the College. Helping Mrs.
Aldridge, left, with a display of the quilt, are Dr. Michael R. Pelt, chairman of the depart-
ment of religion; Dr. W. Burkette Raper, president of Mount Olive College; and Mrs.
Nan H. Jones, of Snow Hill. Mrs. Aldridge, age 86, had the opportunity to show her
creation to the College family during a weekly chapel service in Rodgers Chapel.

In appreciation for Mrs. Aldridge, students and faculty members of the College
and friends in her home community contributed over $400 to the "Mary Forrest
Aldridge Scholarship Endowment" at the College (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOME MISSIONS!

NEW MISSION OPENS

On January 5, 1986, a new
mission was opened in
Whiteville, NC. Whiteville is
the county seat of Columbus
County and is a growing com-
munity. There are several Free
Will Baptist churches close to
Whiteville but none in town.
Over 150 people assembled in
the mission building for a 3
p.m. service.

The Rev. Dean Kennedy, vice
president of the Home Missions
Board, led the singing. The dif-
ferent churches represented
were recognized and there
were six churches represented.
Greetings from the Pee Dee
Association were brought by
the moderator, the Rev. Jackie
Godwin. Prayer was offered by
the Rev. Billy Hardee. Special
music was offered by the Rev.
David C. Hansley, who sang "I
Walk With the King."

The special sermon was
preached by Home Missions
Director Charles Crisp. His text
was 1 Corinthians 14:12; his
subject, "Building a Place of
Fire." The idea of the sermon
was that the church was to be a
place of spiritual fire.

At the close of the service, the
Rev. Jeff Cockrell and his wife,
Terri, were called forward and
he was installed as pastor of the
mission. An offering of over
$500 was received. Mr. Buddy
Cribbs from Beaverdam
Church was appointed
treasurer of the mission. Mr.
Jack Penny was not able to be
there because of sickness, but
he will serve as adult Sunday
School teacher.

This work is a joint effort be-
tween the Pee Dee Association
and the Home Missions Board.
A special thanks is due to the
pastors and laymen of the Pee
Dee churches who worked so
hard in preparing the building
for use, and the Oak Grove
Church for paying the first
month's rent on the piano.
Many others have pledged to
pay the rent on the building.

Pray for Brother Jeff
Cockrell and his wife, Terri.
The mission is located in a store
building at 115 Pecan Street, in
downtown Whiteville.

DIRECTOR OF HOME
MISSIONS RESIGNS

I would like to express my
heartfelt thanks to the Original
Free Will Baptist Home Mis-
sions Board for the trust they
have placed in me during the
past four years by allowing me
to serve them. I would also like
to thank my fellow Free Will
Baptists for responding to my
appeals for help and coopera-
tion. You have truly rallied to
the cause of Home Missions.

I am not leaving this office
without much prayer and deep
thought. I am not leaving
because of any pressure. The
Board and I have enjoyed the

very best of relationships dur-
ing the years we have worked
together. For some time I have
felt the need of returning to the
active pulpit ministry. The
members of East Rockingham
Church of Rockingham, North
Carolina, have offered me the
opportunity and challenge to
pastor their church and I have
accepted.

I will continue to support the
Home Missions program and
will promote the program at
every opportunity. Please ac-
cept my thanks for the prayers
and support you have given me
and the Home Missions work.
Remember, when you support
Home Missions you are sup-
porting the growth of your
denomination.

Be sure to pray for the Home
Missions Board as they seek a
new director.

MISSIONARIES
AVAILABLE

The Rev. and Mrs. Dale
Albertson are working very
hard to establish a mission for
the deaf in Wilson, NC. They
are available to come to your
church and explain this great
work. Why not contact them
and invite them to your
church? They will bless your
hearts and your church will be
better informed.

Remember, an informed peo-
ple know how to pray in-
telligently for the needs of
others.

If your pastor needs someone
to fill your pulpit on Sunday
evening or a special service,
why not invite the Albertsons to
come?

Contact them: The Rev. Dale
Albertson, Quail Point #1,
Forest Hills Road, Wilson,
North Carolina 27893, phone
919-243-2874.

February 1986

23

SeS

to

lte»

fwSS

^'^^ce- ted***,
, of* _ devoW tt c6Tt

lot

is

ot

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

March is . . .

BOARD OF

FOREIGNlMISSIONS

P.O. Box 38
Ayden, N.C. 2M13 0038
Phone: S187M4M3

FOREIGN MISSIONS MONTH

Telethon Sunday— March 23, 1986

What you do through giving is vitally important!

DAY OF PRAYER
FOR WORLD MISSIONS

What you do through prayer makes a difference!

MARCH ^Smli^f
23

Telethon Theme: What Would You Say?

Goal: Every Free Will Baptist Church a Participant in the Telethon.
Your call on March 23 will enable us to reach even more with the gospel.
Call in your special offering between 1:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. Dial 919-746-4963.

February 1986

25

■SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

UPCOMING
CONVENTION

The State Sunday School Convention will
convene in its forty-sixth annual session on
March 1, 1986. It will be held at Stoney Creek
Church.

The theme for the Convention is "Care and
Grow Through Teaching."

Three workshops will be held for teachers.
The workshops will set forth practical ways
teachers can show greater care for their
students, help create greater caring among per-
sons in the class and for those outside the class.
The premise is that caring teachers make for
caring classes; caring classes make for a grow-
ing Sunday School.

"Caring for Children" will be led by Bass
Mitchell, field secretary of the State Sunday
School Convention, who writes some of our Sun-
day School literature for youth through adults.
Bass is also Minister of Education at Stoney
Creek Church.

"Caring for Youth" will be led by Janie
Jones Sowers, editor of our literature at the
Press. Janie brings a great deal of knowledge
and experience in youth ministry to this
workshop.

The Rev. Gary Bailey will lead the workshop
on "Caring for Adults." Gary is pastor of Stoney
Creek Church, as well as President of the State
Convention. Gary brings a great deal of creativi-
ty and practical experience in adult ministry to
this workshop.

The Revs. De Wayne Eakes and Bill Futch
will lead a problem-solving seminar for
superintendents and ministers. Both are
knowledgeable and experienced in Sunday
School work. De is pastor of Little Rock Church.
Bill is pastor of Bethlehem Church.

Every teacher, superintendent, minister,
and other interested person, is encouraged to at-
tend. You will be glad you did!

Stoney Creek Church is located about four
miles north of Goldsboro on Patetown Road, or
Highway 111.

A NEW PROGRAM

An exciting new program will be announced
at the upcoming Convention. It's yet another ser-
vice offered to our Sunday Schools by the State
Sunday School Convention. If you want to know
what it is, be there on March 1.

COURSES TO BE HELD

On February 3, 10, 17, 24, and March 3, 10, 17,
24, the two courses on the Basic Teacher Cer-
tificate will be taught at Kinston Church. "The
Art of Christian Teaching" will be taught by
Bass Mitchell in February. The Rev. David
Hines will teach "Understanding the Bible" in
March.

The classes will be from 7-9:30 p.m. There
will be a fee of $10 to cover materials given out in
class. This fee covers both courses.

For further information, call David Hines at
522-0230 or 527-0619; or Bass Mitchell at 734-8378.

CERTIFICATE GIVEN

In January, a Basic Teacher Certificate was
given to Jerry Godwin. Jerry is an outstanding
teacher of adults in Little Rock Church. The Rev.
De Wayne Eakes is pastor of the church.

Jerry attended the courses held at Little
Rock Church in October and November, 1985. His
book reports were on Power Through Prayer and
Learning Is Change.

We congratulate Jerry on this accomplish-
ment.

CHANGES

The Field Secretary has a new address. It is
Route 7, Box 471, Goldsboro, North Carolina
27530.

He has a new telephone number, also. It is
734-8378.

A HELPER

That's a good description of your Field
Secretary. He can provide you practical advice
and assistance on any aspect of Sunday School
work. He will be glad to meet with your Sunday
School Council, Board of Christian Education, or
congregation to explore ways to improve your
Sunday School.

26

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

W

- 1986 State
Sunday
School
Convention

Stoney Creek Church

March 1

Theme: "Care and Grow
Through Teaching"

"Caring for Children," the

Rev. Bass Mitchell
"Caring for Youth," Janie

Jones Sowers
"Caring for Adults," the

Rev. Gary Bailey
"Problem-Solving," the

Revs. De Eakes, Bill

Futch

ill!

February 1986

CHILDREN'S HOMEI

A PRACTICE OF LOVE

by Cliff Doehring
Cliff and Marie Doehring began as
houseparents last June, 1985. During
the past 8 months, they have had many
new experiences. They serve in Dean's
Cottage, which is home for all of our
children 12 years old and younger. Cliff
and Marie, thank you for helping to pro-
vide care and love to our children.

Child care is a practice of
love. Jesus spoke about loving
others more than yourself, and
love is described in great detail
in 1 Corinthians 13. These
teachings have to be under-
stood and become a lifetime at-
titude if a person is to be an ef-
fective child care worker.

The children come in as
strangers, and the house-
parents are strangers to them.
Your love must enfold them
from the beginning. Almost im-
mediately, in some cases, you
must start to separate the child
from his attitudes and
behaviors, and focus your love
on the child. Physically and
emotionally, each child needs
to be nurtured. Some of their
habits and attitudes will com-
pletely surprise you, but your
love can't falter. You have to
avoid taking their attitudes per-
sonally, even though they learn
your softest point. You become
an emotional punching bag at
times, and a child will direct all
of his frustrations, anger and
disappointments at you; yet
you must still love him. You
must try to teach all of them
that love is not a weapon used

to manipulate and defeat an
enemy, but is something shared
between people who care about
each other.

Houseparents have to learn
to manage their emotions. It is
really tough to stand toe to toe
with a child and keep your emo-
tions under control. The tenden-
cy might be to fear and back
away from the explosive child
or to get angry at the child who
is silently defiant. Regardless,
the houseparent has to main-
tain control. If he feels he may
be losing control, he should
take some action that will
assure that he does not lose it in
front of the child.

The houseparents must con-
stantly "work on" themselves,
as they are the example the
child will tend to follow. You
must first get yourself straight
before you can expect the same
thing of the child. There is a
constant pressure, especially at
first, to overcome and
eliminate your bad habits and
attitudes. Yet this must be ac-
complished if you are to reach a
high level of effectiveness. The
houseparent is constantly striv-
ing for a high level of Christian
values and principles. This is
not easy to do but you know if
you slip too many times the
children will follow along.

There are risks, but the gains
and rewards possible are also
great. The children come in
lacking in every area. You help
them rebuild physically

through good dietary balance
and wholesome food. You
rebuild their trust and value
system, putting their emotional
being in better perspective.
Most of all, you nurture and
minister to them spiritually, to
lead them into the Christian
path and encourage them to
begin their lifetime walk as a
child of God.

Children come into our care
for an indefinite period of time.
In that time you have them, a
real bond develops. You know
the excitement of receiving
them and getting to know them,
the joy of loving them and shar-
ing in their accomplishments,
and the sorrow of seeing them
go. They will go to foster
homes, back to their parents or
out for adoption. Then comes
the greatest reward of
all— when you hear that they
are doing well and are happy.

A GIFT FOR ALL

A few days before Christmas
a large Christmas gift arrived.
Mrs. Pearl J. Narron, district
manager for World Book En-
cyclopedias from Bailey,
shared with Michael and Tom-
my as they open the gift. It was
a brand-new set of World Book
Encyclopedias for our educa-
tional center. This gift will be
used by all of our children and
by those who are here for many
years to come. We want to take
this opportunity to say, "Thank
you" to Mrs. Narron and World
Book for this gift.

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME!

News About Children and Families

Cocaine Use Among
Youngsters Increases

The high price of cocaine
once protected many children
from being exposed to the drug.
Unfortunately, the price has
dropped dramatically, and
more and more youngsters can
get it.

Some signs of cocaine use in-
clude the symptoms of drug use
in general: abrupt changes in
behavior, increased secrecy or
time alone, a change in friends,
a drop in school performance
and increase in tardiness or
absenteeism, loss of interest in
sports or other activities, and a
sudden need for more money.

Specific signs of cocaine use
include mood changes (child
becomes short-tempered and
irritable), change in speech
patterns (babbling, talking ex-
citedly), sudden weight loss
and inability to sleep.

If you don't know of a drug
abuse clinic or appropriate
counselor in your area, call
1-800-COCAINE, for a referral.

. . . But Maybe Some
Hope in Sight

High school seniors may be
cutting their use of drugs, says
a new University of Michigan
study.

The percentage of high school
seniors who have tried an il-
legal drug has fallen only
slightly from 1982 to 1984— from
65 percent to 62 percent— but
there have been substantial
declines in active or current
use of drugs.

The national study, con-
ducted for the National In-
stitute on Drug Abuse, also
found a gradual decline in
alcohol use since 1979.

NC Increases Medicaid
Benefits

North Carolina provides
Medicaid to cover the health

care costs of certain low in-
come families, elderly and
disabled individuals. In order
to qualify for Medicaid, an in-
dividual or family must meet
certain income and resource
standards. Under the old law, if
an individual had more than
$200 income per month, then he
or she would have to 'spend-
down' the excess income on
medical bills. In effect, then, in-
dividuals were forced to live on
$200 per month in order to have
his or her health care costs
covered by Medicaid. The
General Assembly just in-
creased the income level by 10
percent. The new income levels
are as follows:

Family Old New

Size Level Level

1 $200/mo $225/mo

2 267 292

3 300 333

4 333 367

The General Assembly also
increased the resource limits
for the elderly and disabled.
Under the old law, elderly and
disabled individuals were only
allowed to keep $1000 worth of
countable assets. Couples were
only allowed $1100 in resources.
The new law allows individuals
to keep $1500 worth of countable
assets and couples are allowed
to keep $2250.

New Child Support Laws
Set for NC

The North Carolina General
Assembly passed a number of
bills changing the child support
laws. These bills will help the
custodial parent who is sup-
posed to receive child support
collect from the person who is
responsible for paying support.

Tax Refunds Offsets: The
local Child Support Enforce-
ment Agency (called the IV-D
Agency) can now help custodial
parents collect child support by
keeping an absent parent's

state or federal tax refund to
pay child support that is owed.
Only the IV-D Agency can "in-
tercept" an absent parent's
state or federal tax refunds for
child support. However,
anybody can use IV-D's ser-
vices by paying the necessary
fees.

Automatic Wage Garnish-
ment: The North Carolina
Senate passed a bill which
would require the wages of
anyone who owes a month's
worth of child support to be gar-
nished. The North Carolina
House will consider this bill
next year. Federal Law re-
quires North Carolina to have
automatic wage withholding
procedures in effect by
November, 1986.

A SPECIAL
THANK YOU TO ALL

This past Christmas was
one of our best. Each child
in our care had a wonderful
and most blessed
Christmas. On behalf of our
children, we thank each in-
dividual, group, church,
Sunday School and Aux-
iliary who shared in pro-
viding and making this past
Christmas special.

February 1986

29

two women honor-
ed—two outstanding
women were honored by
the members of the Shady
Grove Auxiliary (Sampson
County) at their December
meeting.

Last January, the Aux-
iliary members were asked
to be aware of spiritual
growth among the women,
and at their November
meeting they voted for the
person they believed ex-
emplified the deepest
spiritual growth.

Bonnie Lockamy, Aux-
iliary President, presented
the plaque, which displayed
the Auxiliary emblem and
read: "In recognition of
Spiritual Growth, Presented
to Phyllis McLamb by the
Shady Grove Free Will Bap-
tist Woman's Auxiliary,
1985."

Mrs. Rita Mae Jernigan
was given the Life Member-
ship Award, which is the
highest honor an Auxiliary
woman can receive. Mrs.
Jernigan has been a faithful
member of the Shady Grove
Auxiliary for more than 50
years. She has held every of-
fice in the local organization
and also served as Vice
President of the Cape Fear
District Auxiliary. Her loyal
devotion and loving ser-
vices were extolled by
Carolyn Jernigan, her
daughter-in-law, who made
the presentation.

Neither Mrs. McLamb or
Mrs. Jernigan had any in-
kling they would be honored
that night. After the awards
were given, the group en-
joyed a delicious meal with
their husbands and Mrs.
Jewel Warren, Mrs. Dalma
West and Mrs. David War-
ren, who were special
guests.

CHANGE OF DATE— At
its last Sunday School Con-
vention and Union Meeting,
the second district of the
Central Conference voted to
change the next meeting to
the fourth Sunday in March,
rather than to have it on fifth
Sunday, which is Easter
Sunday. It will meet at Or-
mondsville Church.

I NEWS BRIEFS I

DEBBIE HARRIS, a member of Ayden Church, recently put
her first two songs on the shelves at the Free Will Baptist
Press Bookstore and its branch stores. The songs, "He's Quite
a Man" and "Our Gift to Him," have been well received by all of
those who have heard them. They are presently being intro-
duced by a group of young people who compose the singing
group, "Glory Bound."

Miss Harris is the daughter of the late R. Earl Harris. Her
mother, Peggy Edwards, resides in Grifton, and her brother, the
Rev. Leon Harris, pastors Rose Hill Church, located near
Ayden.

THE LAYMAN'S LEAGUE
OF KING'S CROSS ROADS
CHURCH will host the Cen-
tral Conference Layman's
League on March 3. A bar-
be-que dinner will be served
at 7 p.m., with the meeting
following at 8.

THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP will
meet at Marlboro Church on
March 15. Registration for
the meeting will begin at 9
a.m., and judging of com-
petitions will follow at 9:15.
Registration fee is $10.
Marlboro Church is located
on Highway 264.

All entries in the Chris-
tian Writing Competition
must be sent to Joan Little
by February 24, in order that
they might be judged.
Churches should also ad-
vise her by that date if they
have participants in the Bi-
ble Bowl, Public Speaking
or Lesson Presentation
competitions. (Her address
is Route 2, Box 347-C, Farm-
vi lie, NC 27828; telephone
753-3217.)

STATE LEAGUE CON-
VENTION TO MEET— The
North Carolina State Con-
vention of Free Will Baptist
Leagues will meet at Winter-
ville Church, corner of East
Cooper Street and Glendale
Avenue, Winterville, on

Saturday, March 8. Registra-
tion will begin at 9:30 a.m.,
and the convention will
begin at 10 a.m.

"Leaguers Training for
God's Service" (2 Timothy
2:15) has been selected for
this year's theme. As part of
the program, workshops on
model Leagues will be held
for sponsors and leaders of
each group. Churches that
are interested in starting
Leagues are urged to be
present.

Junior and Intermediate
Sword Drills will be held,
with winners receiving an
expense-paid or one-half-
expense-paid trip to Crag-
mont this summer. Each
church should enter one
contestant in the Junior
Drill (ages 9-11) and one
contestant in the In-
termediate Drill (ages 12-15).
Study materials were
distributed at the conven-
tion last year.

Leagues are requested to
send a generous contribu-
tion for our state proj-
ect—Cragmont (debt retire-
ment on main building)— at
least $75, or what they can.

Any League not receiving
a report blank by February
15 should write to Miss
Leah McGlohon, P.O. Box 2,
Winterville, N.C. 28590, for
one.

ENOUGH CHRISTIANS?
—While the number of
stores getting out of the
pornography business con-
tinues to grow, the leading
retailer of porno magazines
in America says they plan to
stay in the porn business.
Doug Reed, spokesman ror
the Southland Corporation,
said that 7-Eleven would
continue to sell the porn.
Reed's attitude seems to be
that there aren't enough
Christians in America who
care enough to make a dif-
ference.

CAPTAIN KANGAROO
BLASTS TV— Bob Keeshan,
TV's Captain Kangaroo,
says that if TV is teaching
anything to today's young
viewers, it is that violence is
the answer to all problems.
Keeshan said that children
who watch television rather
than going to the play-
ground never learn the
delicate arts of negotiation
and compromise. He also
chastised television-reared
parents who don't spend
enough time with their
children or properly control
what their children watch.

SPENCER W. KIMBALL,
the reigning prophet of the
Mormon church, died at the
age of 90 in November. Kim-
ball will be remembered for
his 1978 revelation (declara-
tion) that allowed Blacks to
hold the priesthood. He also
re-stated the Mormon
teaching that the color of
skin is associated with
goodness when he spoke of
Indian children becoming
whiter when kept in Mor-
mon homes during the
school year.

SMYRNA CHURCH,
Blounts Creek, will be the
site of a special musical
program on Sunday night,
February 2. The Down East
Boys will present a concert
of gospel music that eve-
ning beginning at 7 p.m.

The pastor, the Rev. A. G.
Smith, and the congrega-
tion cordially invite
everyone to attend this ser-
vice.

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NOTE OF THANKS

The commemoration of
Christ's birth was made
even more meaningful to me
in 1985 because of the spirit
of His love that was ex-
pressed to me by your
beautiful cards, letters and
gifts of love.

I wish to thank each in-
dividual as well as each
church and auxiliary in
North Carolina, Georgia,
and Texas, for every prayer,
thought and kindness.

Pray for me that I may live
closer to God than ever
before.

May God bless all of you
for all your goodness and
love in Him.

Mrs. E. C. Morris
MINISTER AVAILABLE

The Rev. Steve Starnes
announces that he will be
available for full-time ser-
vice on March 16, 1986. He
is a member in good stand-
ing in the Eastern Con-
ference; he will relocate if
needed. You may contact
him at: P.O. Box 298, Orien-
tal, NC 28571; or by phone,
249-1329.

PLEASE NOTE

Reedy Branch Church,
Winterville, is seeking a
part-time youth director.
Anyone interested should
contact the Rev. Willis
Wilson (756-1911) or Mr. Earl
Deal (752-7580).

ATTENTION
WOMAN'S
AUXILIARIES

Now is the time for you to
collect your per capita dues,
if you have not already done
so. These dues should be
collected during the first
months of the year, in time
to be sent to your district
treasurer before, or in time

for, your district conven-
tion. The dues are $.40 per
member per year.

Send these dues to your
district treasurer; she will
keep $.20 and send $.20 to
your state treasurer. It is
necessary that you
cooperate in this as these
dues provide a part of the
funds for the operational ex-
penses of your convention.
Thank you for your past
cooperation; we know that
we can continue to count on
you.

Your State Treasurer,
Mrs. Raymond T. Sasser

ATTENTION, FREE
WILL BAPTIST
EMPLOYEES OF TEN
YEARS OR MORE

The Free Will Baptist
Retirement Homes, Inc. has
one apartment available. It
is located in the Dawson
House in Middlesex.

The apartment has
recently been redecorated
and is open for inspection
during the day. The cost of
residency is thirty percent
of one's monthly income.

To view the apartment,
contact the Retirement
Homes office in Ayden
either by writing Box 39,
Ayden, NC 28513, or by call-
ing 746-4963.

Walter J. Sutton, Director

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual
Meeting of the Membership of the Church
Finance Association, Inc. will be held as
follows:

Place: First Free Will Baptist Church
604 East Ash Street
Goldsboro, North Carolina

Date: February 11, 1986

Time: 10:30 a.m.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

March 7— Free Will Baptist Press,

Ayden, 7 p.m.
March 22— St. Mary's Church

300 Fleet Street
New Bern, 7 p.m.

Protestant
Catholic

Jewish M%

U5%

69%

1 28%

I 20%

0th6r Pltf

Religious Profile

None IP 9%

□ 5"

1%

|£

5%

American's religious preferences:

■ 1984
□ 1947

— The Wall Street Journal, November 22, 1985

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 81 1 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states.
$8.50, $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

EveryFamily Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Klnston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marlce
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Robert Hadden, Production Manager; Janie Jones Sowers,
Editor of Literature.

February 1986

31

KEEPERS
OF THE
% FAITH

STATE YOUTH
CONVENTION

MAY 16-18, 1986

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 16

SATURDAY, MAY 17

5

.00 P.M.

Registration — College

7

:30 A.M.

Breakfast— Downtown

Hall

Campus

6

00 P.M.

Supper— New Campus

8

:00 A.M.

Breakfast Meeting for

5:00-6

30 P.M.

Registration of Arts

Bible Bowl

and Crafts— Col-

Judges—Place TBA

lege Hall,

Breakfast Meeting

Classroom B

for Candidates—

6

30 P.M.

Practice for Talent

Place TBA

Show— College Hall

8

30 A.M.

Registration at College

(Auditorium Open

Hall for Those Not

Only to Talent

Yet Registered

Show Participants,

9:00-10

00 A.M.

Business Session for

6:30-7:45 p.m.)

Campaign

7

00 P.M.

Choir Practice for

Speeches— College

Youth Convention

Hall (Polls Open 10

Choir

A.M.-l P.M.)

7

00 P.M.

Judging of Arts and

10

00 A.M.

Bible Bowl Competi-

Crafts (Judges

tion*

Only)

lO-

30 A.M.

Public Speaking*

8:

00 P.M.

Talent Competition

Lesson Presentation

9:

30 P.M.

Vespers: YFA— Outside

ll:

00 A.M.

Cragmont Slides

Library; AFC—

11:00—1:

00 P.M.

Lunch

Outside Chapel; Bi-

12:

00 P.M.

District First Place

ble Bowl Con-

Winner's Luncheon

testants and

1:

00 P.M.

Registration for Those

Coaches— College

Not Yet

Hall

Registered-

10:15-10

45 P.M.

Refreshment Break

College Hall

32 THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

1:30 P.M.

1:30 P.M.
3:00-3:30 P.M.
3:30 P.M.

4:45
5:30
7:00

8:00
9:30

M.
M.
M.

M.
M.

10:15-10:45 P.M.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

8:00 A.M.

10:00 A.M.

Afternoon Business Ses-
sion — Installment
of Officers Im-
mediately Follow-
ing—College Hall

Adult Seminar— Chapel

Refreshment Break

Recreation Time (Soft-
ball, Kickball, Ten-
nis, Basketball Will
Be Available as
Well as Special Ac-
tivities for
Cherubs)

Choir Practice

Supper— New Campus

Awards Presenta-
tion—College Hall

Evening Program

Vespers: YFA— Outside
Library ;
AFC— Outside
Chapel

Refreshment Break

Breakfast— Downtown

Campus
Morning Worship —

Rodgers Chapel

General Information

Cost of meals provided by Mount Olive College
Cafeteria will be $2, breakfast; and $2.75,
lunch and supper.

Cost of lodging overnight will be $8 per person
per night.

The College will furnish linens, bath cloths,

towels, and soap.
Guests must bring their own pillows, blankets,

money for meals and snacks, Bible,

notebook and pencil, and casual clothes for

the weekend.
The Free Will Baptist Press and Mount Olive

College bookstores will be open on Saturday.
Rooms will be assigned in order as registration

forms are received (first received, first

served).

Money for lodging should be sent with a $20
registration fee (per church) by May 1, 1985.

Money for meals will be collected at the time of
the meal.

REGISTRATION FORM

Name of Church.
Address

Please give address and phone number of person we may
contact to answer questions about your group's registra-
tion:

Name

Address

Phone Number

Names of adults supervising young people staying overnight
at the Convention ( at least one adult male and one adult
female) :

Total number of youth and adults lodging overnight:

Total x $8 Total

Friday

Males (12 and under)
Males (13 and up)
Females (12 and under).
Females (13 and up)

Saturday Total x $8 Total

Males (12 and under)

Males (13 and up)

Females (12 and under) ,

Females (13 and up) .

Registration fee (per church)
Total amount enclosed

$20.00

Total number of youth and adults eating meals pro-
vided by MOC cafeteria.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Breakfast

Lunch

Supper

•No meals served at this time

Registration forms, along with lodging money
and registration fee, should be sent to:

Joan Little
Route 2, Box 347-C
Farmville, NC 27828
Phone: (919) 753-3217

February 1986

33

January 1, 1986

Dear Fellow Minister:

The Free Will Baptist Ministerial Association of North Carolina would like to
invite you to the annual Mid- Year Spiritual Life Banquet. This year's banquet will
be held on Friday, February 7, 1986. Mount Olive College will be our host for the
evening. Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the meal will be $6 per
person and will begin at 7 p.m. We look forward with great anticipation to our pro-
gram this year. The Rev. Fred A. Rivenbark from Durham will be the speaker.

We invite minister's widows to be our guests on this occasion. We ask our
ministers to help the Executive Committee extend to them a special invitation.
Ministers should complete the pre-registration form and send it with your $6 per
person to: Calvin A. Heath, Route 1, Box 288, Dunn, NC 28334, before January 29,
1986. Please make checks payable to: N.C. Ministerial Association.

The Executive Committee would also encourage our ministers to consider an
invitation by the General Baptist Minister's Conference to join with them in study
and fellowship May 20-22, 1986, at Cragmont Assembly.

In His service,
Calvin A. Heath, Secretary
N.C. Ministerial Association

PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
Mid-Year Spiritual Life Banquet
, will be attending the Banquet on February 7, and am sending

for the meal, and will have guest(s) with me.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HHHHHBMnHEDITORIALHHHHHHHHHi

A THREE DOLLAR LIMIT?

I'm tired; and my mind's wheels are spin-
ning a hundred miles an hour in about as many
different directions. There are so many
challenges before me: There are people to meet
and lives to touch. And yes, there are people out
there who can touch my life, making it better as
a result. I have dreams to fulfill, battles to fight,
and a desire to go where the brave dare not go.
My quest? To follow that inner voice that
beckons. Right now I'm not quite sure where I
am to go, but I know what I am to do— make my
world a better place in which to live. That's what
my friend Jay did.

You see, Jay died last October . . . and my
life will never be the same. He was the kind of
friend with whom you could share anything— and
you didn't worry about what you said. As long as
I knew him, I can never remember him calling
me by name; he always called me "Sister" and I
always felt he was my brother. (Well, he was! )
He never said a whole lot— but he lived out his
faith in such a powerful way. And so many peo-
ple saw Christ in him.

Jay never put on "airs." Never given to
pretense, you always knew where he stood; and
humility was one of his greatest strengths. You
and I may not be like that, though; we may be
quite self-serving. This thought brings to mind a
very mind-probing poem, "I Wonder," written
by Ruth Harms Calkin.

You know, Lord, how I serve You
With great emotional fervor
In the limelight.

You know how eagerly I speak for You
At a women's club.

You know how I effervesce when I promote

A fellowship group.

You know my genuine enthusiasm

At a Bible study.

But how would I react, I wonder,

If you pointed to a basin of water

And asked me to wash the calloused feet

Of a bent and wrinkled old woman

Day after day

Month after month

In a room where nobody saw

And nobody knew.

Let the last two lines of that poem sink in: In
a room where nobody saw And nobody knew. The
person who truly cares about others, who truly
serves, is not stopped when others cannot learn
of their "kindnesses." In fact, they are quicker
to do for others when applause is forbidden or
restricted. Servanthood expects nothing . . . and
Christianity definitely involves servanthood.

But many of us do not want that kind of
Christianity. We "would like to buy three dollars
worth of God, please, not enough to explode [our]
souls or disturb [our] sleep, but just enough to
equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sun-
shine. [We] don't want enough of Him to make
[us] love a Black man or pick beets with a
migrant. [We] want ecstasy, not transforma-
tion; [we] want the warmth of the womb, not a
new birth. [We] want a pound of the Eternal in a
paper sack. [We] would like to buy three dollars
worth of God, please" (Wilbur Rees).

For many of us, three dollars worth of God is
sufficient. We want a sack full and nothing more.
We want just enough to keep our guilt level below
the threshold of pain, enough to guarantee
escape from the eternal flame. But we definitely
do not want enough to make us nervous, to start
pushing around our prejudice, or to start nit-
picking at our life-styles. Enough is enough. And
barely getting into Heaven seems to be sufficient
for most Free Will Baptists . . . that sells for
about three dollars, I think.

That wasn't enough for Jay.

And it isn't enough for me.

February 1986

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

DURHAM NC £7706

ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY
INTO HER FUTURE

Pat Moore is bright, young, and attractive.

She heads a research, design, and marketing firm it
Hew York City.

Then Why did Pat Moore spend three years of her I i Fc
hobbling along sidewalks, stooped and wrinkled,
appearing for all the world to be a woman of eight)
coDinawith Dhvsical chanae?

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

March, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 3

3

A True Easter Story

by Roger Hawthorne

4

Victorious in the End

by Michael Jones

6

Catastrophe in the Sky

by Joseph Chambers

7

Kinstonian Honored With ARC Citizen Award

DEPARTMENTS

8 Book News

9 Sunday School Convention
10 Foreign Missions

18 Mount Olive College

22 Children's Home

24 State League Convention

26 State Youth Convention

28 News Briefs

31 Editorial

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

by Roger Hawthorne
One of the first Easters of my ministerial
career began with a blizzard. I was still a stu-
dent pastor, and we had arranged to have an
ordained minister come to serve communion.
There was a question if he would be able to
make it through the storm. To add to the
misery, shortly after breakfast, we received
word of the death of a woman, one of the
twelve brothers and sisters who were members
of the congregation. Between the storm, the
probable absence of the minister, and the
death, I began to anticipate my wife and me
having a worship service by ourselves.

I stumbled from the parsonage to the
church to be sure it would be warm in case
anyone should come, then fought my way back
for another cup of coffee. This was a bliz-
zard—I could not see the road from the par-
sonage.

At church- time, I entered the back room,
and there were all the teenagers who composed
the choir. Eventually the ordained minister
stumbled in, and I marvelled at his dedication
to have fought that storm for more than fifty
miles.

. • • •••• v.. • ^

^^^^

March 1986

3

The organist slipped out to begin her
prelude while the choir, the minister, and I,
consoled ourselves that perhaps at least a few
people had come to the service. Then the organ
volume lifted and we began to march in. There
in the front row sat the husband and children of
the deceased woman; they had driven thirty
miles. Around them were aunts, uncles, and
cousins and they were so packed in the sanc-
tuary that some of them had to stand. Never
before had there been so many people in a wor-
ship service there.

The organist moved into the first hymn,
"Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia!" In the
front row, singing as loudly as any, with tears
streaming down their faces, were the husband
and children of the deceased woman.

This was a congregation which had come
out of the old Evangelical Church of North

America, so as was the custom, the people
came forward to receive communion. We bent
the rules so that I could help serve. The last
man I reached with the wine was the new
widower, whose children ranged from elemen-
tary to high school in age. My eyes must have
been asking a question, for as he replaced the
communion glass, he quietly took hold of my
arm and whispered, "She has gone home, and
we thought we should come home today too,
especially today."

Outside the storm raged on, but no one
minded, for inside the Resurrection was being
celebrated. And for a certain divinity student,
it was the first time he ever really understood
the Resurrection.

"If a man die, shall he live again?"
"Yes, for eternity."

in the End

by Michael Jones

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

It was a dark, desperate day. The Man who
had fed the hungry, healed the sick, and even
claimed to be the Son of God was hanging on a
cross dying as a common criminal among other
criminals. He had claimed to be the way to God
but one of His own had betrayed Him ; the
highest religious court in the land had con-
victed Him ; and the common people had
chosen a murderer instead of Him. Even
nature had seemed to turn her back on Him as
darkness covered the sun and the earth trem-
bled and shook. No wonder He had cried out to
God asking why He was forsaken!

What a horrible way to die ! Forsaken by
His friends, railed on by His enemies, without
help or (seemingly) without hope, and even
with God's face turned away. What could bring
a man to such a death? Why would Jesus will-
ingly walk to Calvary? How could He face such
an inglorious end to His life and ministry? The
answers are the heart of the Christian
message.

First, what could bring a man to such a
death? Sin. Not His own (for He was sinless)
but yours and mine. All have sinned and come
short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and
the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) so God
made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that
we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). The next time you
think your sin is small and matters not, then
you need to look to Calvary and see how much
of a penalty was paid for it!

Second, why would Jesus willingly walk to
Calvary? Love. God commendeth His love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Such love
overwhelms me. God did not wait for me to get
better or even to stop sinning. Jesus loved me
in spite of my sin and offered to pardon me if I
would just accept by faith His payment of my
sin debt. How can He love us so much when we
serve Him so little? How can we serve Him so
little when He loves us so much?

Third, how could He face such an in-
glorious end to His life and ministry? Hope. He
knew the tomb could not hold Him. He looked
beyond the momentary to the permanent. He
knew that the end was the beginning. He knew
God had a plan and He was doing His part of it.
He knew that the defeat of His death would
become the victory of His life and death would
be swallowed up in victory. O death, where is
thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is
the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us

the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

If you are in the will of God, do not worry
about the crowd's approval, or life's conditions,
or changing circumstances ; just remember
that God will never do wrong and He will be
victorious in the end.

March 1986

5

CATASTROPHE IN THE SKY

by Joseph R. Chambers

The heart of an entire nation was brought to
tears on Tuesday, January 28, 1986. Each of us
has bled in our individual way. This event
touched us as few events do.

Why? I would suggest three reasons we have
responded and have hurt as we have.

The first is very simple. Never has an entire
nation watched simultaneously as seven
Americans were suddenly obliterated. Right
before our eyes they were blown to pieces. We
watched the debris from it all fall to the earth.

Second, this program of space venturing
represents our national pride. All of our
technology and scientific accomplishments
culminate in this far-reaching program. Sudden-
ly, it didn't click as we were accustomed.

Last, is the reality of a private citizen (one of
us) being among the seven. She represented you
and me and especially our children. Education of
the young is still the heart throb of America. It
represents an area that has been taken from our
citizenry and given to social reformers. It is an
area of our national life that most Americans
want back in the hands of its owners.

No wonder we responded as we did. This na-
tion has a heart of gold and we are at our best
when we bleed for both our nation and for one
another. Patriotism, compassion, and sacrifice
are three words which describe our finer
characteristics.

Out of this event has exploded a new sense of
the "fear of God." As has been beautifully said,
"There are no atheists in foxholes." Atheism is
the product of self-deification and when that dei-
ty is suddenly shattered we always have a new
sense of the real divinity.

The "fear of God" has been in much
disrepute in our nation. Radical descriptions
have been given to any idea that suggests judg-
ment, penalty for sin, and inbred human corrup-
tion. Human potential has become our mind-set
and our "god." The "fear of God" is the basis of
a cultural and civilized society. Without it,
freedom becomes not only elusive but impossi-
ble. It's either sanctity of human life under God
or it is ultimately anarchy.

B. F. Skinner expressed the final end of
humanism or godlessness when he said, "We can
no longer afford freedom, and so it must be
replaced with control over man, his conduct and
his culture " {TIME, September 20, 1971). This
man was called by the same article, "the most
influential of living American psychologists." He
is one of our educational culprits.

The "fear of God" is beautiful. One of the
best examples I can imagine is a young lad
(maybe two years old) clinging to his father as
they stand in a zoo before the lions' cage. The lit-
tle fellow's heart is pounding as the lion roars.
With his arms firmly wrapped around dad's
neck, he learns to respect the "king of the
forest." Love and fear has found its balance.

Our technology is breathtaking but limited.
Seven lives— Francis Scobee, Gregory Jarvis,
Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair, Ellison
Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Michael
Smith— gave us that testimony.

Their witness has reminded an entire nation
that God alone is perfect. We must keep striving,
living, and exploring but remembering, "The
Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed
be the name of the Lord."

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

KINSTONIAN HONORED WITH ARC
CITIZEN AWARD

Hulon Whitehead, a native of
Dover, who has resided in
Kinston for 30 years, has been
honored in Raleigh at the 1985
Association of Retarded
Citizens (ARC) of North
Carolina Awards Luncheon as
the recipient of the 1985 ARC of
North Carolina Citizenship
Award.

In 1945, at the age of five, he
contracted polio. He attended
the Dover Elementary School
and at the age of 12, was admit-
ted to Caswell Center.

While at Caswell, he was
trained in janitorial services.
His first competitive employ-
ment was in a local barber shop
where he did janitorial work
and was a shoe shine boy.

A few months later, he was
hired at Lester's Hardware
Store where he did janitorial
work and put up stock. He
worked at the store for 13 years
and at Sportlanes for four years
until he was involved in an acci-
dent in 1983 and suffered a
broken hip.

He was 23 when he moved out
of Caswell Center into a board-
ing house.

In 1978, he moved into an effi-
ciency apartment where he
learned very rapidly to plan his
meals, grocery shop and cook.

He also tends a small garden
in the back yard of his apart-
ment and prepares his
vegetables for freezing. By the
end of the summer, he has the
freezer section of his
refrigerator filled with frozen
vegetables which usually last
him all winter.

His contribution in the com-
munity is immeasurable. He is
always willing to help with
fund-raising projects by selling
tickets to gospel music con-
certs, door-to-door solicitation

for the cancer drive, heart fund
and other worthy organiza-
tions.

He has served as chairman of
the fund-raising committee for
Mount Olive College in
Westside Church, of which he is
an active member and has con-
tributed to assisting the church
exceed its goal during the fund-
raising campaign.

He served on the Human
Rights Committee at Caswell
Center for four years, Neuse
Enterprises Sheltered Work-
shop Board for three years and
is a charter member of that
Board.

He was very instrumental in
the development of Neuse
Enterprises, helping with fund-
raising projects and never
missed a meeting.

He has been a member of the
ARC for more than 15 years and
is presently on the ARC of

Lenoir County Board of Direc-
tors.

He has worked as a counselor
at Cragmont Assembly at
Black Mountain during AFC
Week for the past five years. He
enjoys taking pictures of the ac-
tivities during the week and
putting together a slide presen-
tation of the camp, traveling to
Free Will Baptist churches
throughout the state promoting
the week.

Those attending the awards
luncheon from Kinston with
him were his pastor, the Rev.
Wayne King; the ARC of Lenoir
County president, Mrs. Ellen
Carter; Executive Director,
Mrs. Marlene Everett; board
member, Mrs. Nancy White;
John Bush; Mike Moseley;
Gavin Loftin; Mr. and Mrs. Bill
Brame; and Charlie B. Brame.

The 1986 president of the
North Carolina ARC, Mrs. Judy
Burke, has appointed Hulon to
serve on the ARC/NC Board of
Directors and on the 1986
ARC/NC Awards Nominations
Committee.

Steve Ramey (left), 1
presents a plaque to

985 ARC/NC President,
Hulon Gray Whitehead.

March 1986

1

Meeting a Child's Need for

Spiritual Teaching

TOGETHER AT HOME

When parents rely mainly on
Sunday School teachers and
pastors to teach their children
about the Christian faith, they
are missing out on a golden op-
portunity, say authors Dean
and Grace Merrill. The Mer-
rills believe the family home
provides the most effective
means of nurturing a child's
faith— because of the countless
everyday opportunities for
teaching spiritual values and
the love parents and their
children share.

In their new book, Together
at Home, they provide parents
with one hundred proven ways
of instilling a love for God and
an understanding of the Chris-
tian faith in school-age
children. Designed for sharing
with kids six to twelve, the Mer-
rills' new book shows how
parents can interest their
children with creative spiritual
ideas and involve them in
family-shared activities.

"We mix the secular with the
sacred," say the Merrills of
their family times, "so the kids
don't know the difference. We
don't want them putting God in
a 'Sunday box.' We want them
bumping into Him every time
they turn around, in the midst
of ordinary living. That way,
He'll stay a normal, here-and-
now part of their lives into
adulthood. ' '

Together at Home is based on
the Bible, so kids can see where
parents get their direction for
living and can turn there for
their own solutions. — (Trade
Paperback, $5.95.)

HHBOOK NEWS

Kenneth N. Taylor Talks
About Christian Growth

HOW TO GROW: FIRST
STEPS FOR
NEW CHRISTIANS

Kenneth N. Taylor, trans-
lator of the most widely read
modern-language Bible, has
written his first major book
for adults since publication of
The Living Bible in 1971. En-
titled How to Grow: First Steps
for New Christians, it outlines
steps Christians can take to
help deepen their faith and
enable them to make the most
of their new relationship with
God.

Taylor discusses all major
facets of Christian growth, in-
cluding principles and lifestyle,
feelings and influences that can
hinder growth, and issues that
might affect how your religion
is practiced.

Describing the decision to
become a Christian as the
"beginning of opportunities,"
Taylor talks about what it
means to be a Christian and
outlines the "hows" of living a
pure life. He explains how to
deal with the problems of
humanness and how to handle
Satan's attempts to thwart
progress in your new life.

Believing that a Christian's
lifestyle should reflect his or
her beliefs, Taylor discusses
the importance of ordering
priorities: God, family, work,
and leisure time. He discusses
self-image and the love of God,
sexual issues, spiritual gifts,
doctrinal concerns, and where
all of it should fit in a Christian
life. — (Hardcover, $9.95.)

THE MIND POLLUTERS

Showing individuals exactly
what they can do in their com-
munity to combat pornography
is the central aim of Jerry
Kirk's new book, The Mind
Polluters. Described by
Charles Colson, president of
Prison Fellowship, as "a
discerning, well-founded view
on the insidious evil of por-
nography," The Mind Polluters
discusses the severity of the
problem in order to alert those
who have not been exposed to
serious pornography and may
not realize its impact on our
society today.

Kirk believes that through
our quiet submission, a small
pornographic minority has
been able to dictate and
legislate its tastes in theatres,
bookstores, and through televi-
sion. His book carefully details
the history of pornography in
America, reports on its effects,
and outlines specific steps that
an individual, the church, and
the community can take to fight
it.

It also cites many case
histories of cities in which anti-
pornography forces have ac-
tually closed down "adult"
bookstores and theatres.

The author has personally
started such a movement in his
own church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In doing so, he has alerted the
Christian community to their
need to fight pornography.

Jerry Kirk is pastor of College Hill
Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati and
president of the National Consultation
Against Pornography and Obscenity.—
(Trade Paperback, $6.95.)

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTIONI

UPCOMING
CONVENTION

The State Sunday School Convention will
convene in its forty-sixth annual session on
March 1, 1986. It will be held at Stoney Creek
Church.

The theme for the Convention is "Care and
Grow Through Teaching." The schedule is as
follows: 8:30-9, registration; 9-10:15, workshop
sessions; 10:15-10:30, break (refreshments);
10:30-11:30, workshop sessions (continued);
11:30, business session.

Three workshops will be held for teachers.
The workshops will set forth practical ways
teachers can show greater care for their
students, help create greater caring among per-
sons in the class and for those outside the class.
The premise is that caring teachers make for
caring classes ; caring classes make for a grow-
ing Sunday School.

"Caring for Children" will be led by Bass
Mitchell, field secretary of the State Sunday
School Convention, who writes some of our Sun-
day School literature for youth through adults.
Bass is also Minister of Education at Stoney
Creek Church.

"Caring for Youth" will be led by Janie
Jones Sowers, editor of our literature at the
Press. Janie brings a great deal of knowledge
and experience in youth ministry to this
workshop.

The Rev. Gary Bailey will lead the workshop
on "Caring for Adults." Gary is pastor of Stoney
Creek Church, as well as President of the State
Convention. Gary brings a great deal of creativi-
ty and practical experience in adult ministry to
this workshop.

The Revs. De Wayne Eakes and Bill Futch
will lead a problem-solving seminar for
superintendents and ministers. Both are
knowledgeable and experienced in Sunday
School work. De is pastor of Little Rock Church.
Bill is pastor of Bethlehem Church.

Every teacher, superintendent, minister,
and other interested person, is encouraged to at-
tend the workshop sessions. They should also
plan to attend the business session, as important
information will be related at that time.

Stoney Creek Church is located about four
miles north of Goldsboro on Patetown Road, or
Highway 111.

March 1986

A NEW PROGRAM

An exciting new program will be announced
at the upcoming Convention. It's yet another ser-
vice offered to our Sunday Schools by the State
Sunday School Convention. If you want to know
what it is, be there on March 1.

WORLD MISSIONS
CONFERENCE AND RALLY

BOARD OF

FOREIGN! MISSIONS

THEME: Helpers Together
by Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:11)

Date: Friday, March 7, 1986
Place: College Hall, Mount Olive College
Sponsor: Board of Foreign Missions
Conference Speaker: David Bryant

Brother Bryant is a missions specialist with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, U.S.A. He has been a
delegate to a number of international consultations on world evangelization and was a speaker at the In-
ternational Prayer Assembly for World Evangelization in Seoul, Korea, in 1984. We are very privileged to
have him share with us at the 1986 Conference.

The Conference sessions will be held in College Hall. Coffee and donuts will be served from 9:30-9:55. The
sessions during the day will be as follows:

10:00-10:15 Devotion

10:15-12:00 First Session— Topic: "The Most Hopeful Sign of

our Times, Energizing Movements of United
Prayer, and How They Will Change Everything
in YOUR World."
12:00- 1:00 Lunch Break

1:00- 2:30 Second Session— Topic: "How to Mobilize Concerts

of Prayer Where YOU Live."
2:30- 2:45 Break

2:45- 4:00 Final Session— Topic: "Next Steps Toward a Move-

ment of Prayer for World Evangelization."
7:30 Mission Rally— Topic: "Prayer and the Fulfillment of

the Great Commission."

The entire program for the day will be devoted to the topic of prayer. The purpose of the Conference is for
"fullness (awakening in the church) and fulfillment (evangelization among the nations)."

THE WORLD MISSIONS RALLY will be held in College Hall at 7:30. A great program is planned.
SPECIAL MUSIC will be provided by the Rev Bruce Goodwin of Rockingham and the Master's Quartet of
Pikeville.

There will be no registration fee for the Conference. An offering will be received during the Rally to help
cover expenses.

Pastor, church member, friend, make your plans now to attend. This Conference is not just for everyone
else; this Conference is for YOU! Come and bring a large number from your church.

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

March is . . .

BOARD OF

foreign! missions

P.O. Box 3*
Ay den. N.C. ZSS13-C
Phone: »1*-1M-4M3

FOREIGN MISSIONS MONTH

Telethon Sunday— March 23, 1986

What you do through giving is vitally important!

DAY OF PRAYER
FOR WORLD MISSIONS

What you do through prayer makes a difference!

MARCH
23

Telethon Theme: What Would You Say?

Goal: Every Free Will Baptist Church a Participant in the Telethon.
Your call on March 23 will enable us to reach even more with the gospel.
Call in your special offering between 1:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. Dial 919-746-4963.

March 1986

11

FOREIGN MISSIONS!

MISSIONARY CANDIDATES APPROVED
FOR THE PHILIPPINES

The Board of Foreign Missions is pleased to announce the ap-
proval of Paul and Teresa Grubbs as missionary candidates to the
Philippines. The Grubbs Family submitted their preliminary ap-
plications in September, 1985; after they were reviewed by the
Board, the formal application was submitted. The oral interview
followed on January 7, at which time the Board approved them as
missionary candidates.

Paul and Teresa graduated from Mount Olive College. Paul did
further studies at Atlantic Christian College and holds a Master of
Divinity Degree from Southeastern Theological Seminary. He is
presently the pastor of Friendship Church, near Middlesex. The
Grubbs Family will be leaving the pastorate around the first of
April to begin their deputation work. We hope they will be able to
depart for the field by October 1. This, however, depends on the
level of support they are able to raise. The Board has been forced to
establish a new policy regarding the sending of new missionaries
because of the weakness of funding for the present program. Each
new missionary candidate will be required to raise his or her
monthly support from individuals and churches before they can
depart for the field. This means that we need churches and in-
dividuals to do this above their regular giving; just to earmark
present giving would only cripple the Foreign Missions program.

The departure date for the Grubbs Family to the Philippines
depends on your response. For further information write or call:

Harold Jones

Board of Foreign Missions
P.O. Box 39
Ayden, NC 28513
Phone: 919-746-4963

Notice — Give the Grubbs Family an opportunity to visit your church. Contact
this office; or Paul Grubbs, Route 1, Box 46, Middlesex, NC 27557; phone:
919-269-8077.

GOD IS MOVING IN THE
NORTH COUNTRY

submitted by Fred P. Baker

Palawan is a long narrow
island, measuring 277 miles
long and 24 miles wide at the
widest point. Puerto Princesa,
the home of Palawan Bible Col-
lege and the headquarters of
the Free Will Baptist Church
Philippines, is located on the
east coast, about in the middle.

The year 1985 proved to be an
exciting year for God's work
there. From 1981 until 1985, the
Free Will Baptist work was
located in the Puerto Princesa
area. Planning, prayers, and
training for the past years had
been laying the foundation for
that day when Free Will Bap-
tists would move out. In July,
1985, five teams of two workers
each launched out to open five
new areas with the gospel.
Three teams went south to In-
agawan, Apo Aporawan, and
Abo Abo. Two teams went north
to Manalo and Calawag. In
November, 1985, another team
of two workers opened Libertad
in the north. Free Will Baptists
now have three outreaches in
the south and three in the north.
The following is a report on
what is happening in the north.

Calawag is the farthest north,
being 200 km or 125 miles from
Puerto Princesa. It takes
around seven hours to drive
that distance. That should tell
you something about the road
condition. Marcos Taladro and
Leonardo Buision began their
work there in July, 1985. There
was no evangelical church in
the entire barangay. A
barangay is like a county in
North Carolina. Since July,
they have conducted several
funerals, dedicated four babies,
led many to Christ, and bap-
tized eight persons. They meet
regularly for services under
two large mango trees by the

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

side of the road. The people
have chosen a hillside across
the road from the two large
trees where they meet and have
dreams of building a small
Free Will Baptist chapel to wor-
ship in. Attendance ranges
from fifty up to seventy.

Libertad is around 180 km. or
112 miles north of Puerto.
Lilibeth Nacase and Helen
Carobot arrived in Libertad the
last week of November, 1985.
There was no evangelical
witness here either. At first
some of the people of Libertad
thought these two new ladies in
their barangay were witches.
In December, the Rev. Pio dela
Rosa and I visited Lilibeth,
Helen, and the barangay cap-
tain. January 1, the Rev. Pio
dela Rosa, Bernabe Escholar,
Felipe Carmen, Stevie Baker,

and I went back to Libertad and
spent two days to help build two
rooms onto the barangay cap-
tain's house for the ladies to
live in. Through it all, God has
been moving. Lilibeth and
Helen now have a Bible study
started with 15 in attendance.

Manalo is only 48 km. north of
Puerto. Susan dela Rosa and
Analiza Regala arrived in
Manalo in July, 1985. There was
no evangelical church here
either. They began conducting
home Bible studies, Sunday
School, and worship services.
They meet for services in the
barangay hall. Attendance is
good. In September, they con-
ducted a religious film showing
with over forty people re-
sponding for more information
about God. They now have four
that are ready for baptism and
others are being prepared.

The fields are truly white un-
to harvest. It is harvest time in
the Philippines, yet that does
not mean it is an easy task.
When you commit yourself to
go into a territory which Satan
controls 100%, you can expect a
great battle. There is a lot of
difference in working there
than in places where Satan has
already lost part of his control.
There have been trials, and
hardships, but Calawag, Liber-
tad, and Manalo are living
testimonies that greater is He
that is in us than he that is in
the world. Jesus Christ has
proven He is faithful and that
He is bigger than any problem
we face.

Thank you for your prayers
and support that is helping us to
tear down Satan's stronghold in
the north country.

PALAWAN BIBLE COLLEGE
(A Free Will Baptist Bible College in the Philippines, Training
Filipinos to Reach Their Nation With the Gospel)

HISTORY

Palawan Bible College is not the work of
man alone. God in His wisdom has used many
people in different places to accomplish His plan.

Palawan Bible College began as an idea with
the Rev. and Mrs. Harold Jones as a vehicle to
train and equip leaders for the young Free Will
Baptist denomination. The Rev. and Mrs. Wayne
King labored long hours to put flesh on that idea.
Property was located under God's direction. God
used the Foreign Missions Board to present the
program to Free Will Baptists in the United
States. God touched many tender hearts and the
land was provided. The Fred Baker Family was
added to the team. God was faithful and in the
spring of 1979, Palawan Bible Institute was
opened.

There were three teachers, six students,
property, but no building. Classes met in the
chapel of the local church. Many people in the
Philippines and the United States rejoiced and
praised the living God for His great power in
bringing this event to pass. However, God was
not finished.

The boys' and girls' dormitories, with a
capacity of twelve students each, were added.

An administration building, kitchen and dining
hall, two classrooms and a small library were
the next additions.

God sent the Charles Barnard Family, the
Willem van der Plas Family, and faithful
Filipino believers to enhance Palawan Bible Col-
lege's faculty and staff.

God in His timing erected a National Head-
quarters Building on the Palawan Bible College
campus. In this building, Palawan Bible College
was given an apartment for the director and a
room for a larger library. From that simple
beginning, God's arm has never been short.

God's power and guidance is witnessed with
amazement in the area of the Palawan Bible Col-
lege program. From the beginning until now we
have been blessed by the leadership of God in
this college. Through faculty, staff, conferences,
workshops, and many advisors, God has clearly
shown His way and His plan. From 1979 until
1985, Palawan Bible College offered an associate
degree in Biblical Education. This was Phase
One of development which has become known as
the A.B.E. Program. Students live on campus
in dorms. The unique feature of this two-year
(Turn the Page)

March 1986

13

Flag-raising ceremony— library and printing building in
the background.

Students studying in the library; 4,000 additional
books needed.

Meal time.

program is that when possible student textbooks
are programmed textbooks which are written for
Theological Education by Extension (TEE). The
challenge to combine the two forms of education,
traditional classroom education and Theological
Education by Extension, has been both a learn-

Student work program — gardening.

ing and an exciting experience. Education is a
lifetime experience. In the A.B.E. Program, the
student is able to identify with his old method of
study and be introduced to a programmed learn-
ing situation that he can take with him the rest of
his life.

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN

MISSIONS

In 1985, Palawan Bible Institute changed its
name to Palawan Bible College, and im-
plemented Phase Two of development. The
junior and senior years were begun, leading to a
Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Ministries or a
Bachelor's in Biblical Education. This program
has become identified as the B.B.E. Program.
Again: "God has been creative."

The students do not live on campus. They
must be involved in ministry. The study is totally
by the Theological Education by Extension
method. They work on location four weeks and
do their programmed text and projects. They
then come back to campus for ten days of
seminars, workshops, and classroom time for
the course. They have three of these blocks in
each semester. In each of these blocks, they
study, test, and prove the materials and concepts
they are learning. They complete two courses
each block. The teacher introduces the course,
gives materials and assignments, and the
students go out. Classroom time comes after
their field work. The ten days on campus require
the workers to utilize their laymen and deacons
to preach and teach in their absence. God has
used this to stimulate many laymen to desire
more training. So Phrase Three will be started in
June, 1986.

Phase Three will involve opening a TEE
Center in every church, mission, and outreach,
for the equipping of every believer for ministry
in fulfilling the task of world evangelism. This
will be called the Lay Pastor and Christian
Worker Certificate Program. The curriculum
consists of twelve foundational, pre-college
courses. These will prepare every believer who
desires to be a functional member in God's
Kingdom in the domain of his local church. It
also will prepare him to enter Palawan Bible Col-
lege, should God so lead him.

NEEDS

In the development of the program, we
notice several urgent needs for which we ask
your prayers.

In the sector of personnel, we need two addi-
tional faculty members.

The present number of books in our library is
4,000 below the accreditation standards of the
Philippine Association of Bible and Theological
Schools (PABATS). With a thankful heart we
look at our present library, but we know also that
the accreditation committee will not be satisfied
with the present number of books. With your
care, we are blessed with a beautiful library
room in the printing building.

Our third need is the music department of
the college. A keyboard instrument is needed for
more effective music teaching. This can be a
piano or an organ. The Filipino believers love to
sing, and therefore it is essential that the
students receive a minimum education in Chris-
tian music.

The extension of office and storage space is
our fourth objective.

The fifth need is a faculty-staff house for
single lady employees, because they live a long
way from the campus.

Another important need is for sponsorship of
work scholarships for students who are not able
to pay their expenses.

We have put these needs into the hands of our
Lord, being convinced that He will provide. We
believe that the Lord knows these needs already,
so let us praise Him with thanksgiving.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Phase One has been implemented, tested,
and evaluated. These are reasons for thanksgiv-
ing; we have our ministers from our own
denominational college and they understand the
Free Will Baptist doctrines and policy. The col-
lege is providing the present needs of personnel
in the ministry.

Phase Two, which was begun in June, 1985,
for the continuing education of the third and
fourth year students, is progressing very well.
During the testing and proving of Phase One and
the implementation of Phase Two, the Lord has
enabled the students to open ten new outreaches.
Eight of these were in barangays without any
evangelical church. A barangay is comparable
to a county in the United States.

Phase Three will be implemented in June,
1986. This will involve the opening of eleven
centers for the teaching and equipping of the
believers in the local congregations for ministry.
This will utilize the Theological Education by
Extension Program (TEE), and textbooks
which are accredited by Palawan Bible College,
Palawan Bible College is serving the Free Will
Baptist churches of the Philippines in ac-
complishing their goals of commitment to the
Lord Jesus Christ. These commitments to Christ
are:

1. Philippine leadership in true Christian concept.

2. The equipping and involvement of every believer in
fulfilling the Great Commission. Palawan Bible College
is training leaders for the churches. These leaders will
plant new churches. They will also train and equip
laymen for ministry. As these laymen share their faith
they will channel to Palawan Bible College those
believers whom God calls to full-time ministry and
specialized training.

March 1986

55

Saturday |

CD
Q

8

Deut. 21-23

15

Joshua 7-8

22

Judges 1-2

29

Judges 18-19

Friday

7

Deut. 17-20

14

Joshua 4-6

21

Joshua 22-24

28

Judges 15-17

ions Month.

00
0)

Thursday

6

Deut. 14-16

13

Joshua 1-3

20

Joshua 20-21

27

Judges 12-14

tH

X

Wednesday

5

Deut. 11-13

12

Deut. 32-34

19

Joshua 17-19

26

Judges 10-11

reign Missi

<

Tuesday

4

Deut. 8-10

11

Deut. 29-31

18

Joshua 14-16

25

Judges 8-9

arch is Foi

Monday

APRIL

5 M T W T F S

12 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30

* * m

13
CD

Q

10

Deut. 28

17

Joshua 11-13

CN

r»
<£>

CO
03

O)

"O
~3

rn

cr

s

| Sunday

FEBRUARY
S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28

2

Deut. 3-4

9

Deut. 24-27

16

Joshua 9-10

CN

m

CO

co

CD
O)
T3

-3

fn

OJ

o

CNJ

(/)
CD
O)
TD

—)

IMOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

1985— A YEAR OF ADVANCEMENT AND CHALLENGE AT MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information
Mount Olive College

The Mount Olive College family focused on
the advancement of a new four-year program in
1985 with enthusiasm and commitment. The Col-
lege met a multitude of challenges and enrolled
its first senior class in the fall. Those seniors are
slated to graduate on May 10.

Enrollment set an all-time high of 472
students in on-campus programs and 216 in ex-
tension programs, for a total of 688. This year's
enrollment figure is a far cry from the 22
students in 1954 when the College began opera-
tions in Mount Olive.

The College had been chartered in 1951 by
the North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists as a two-year institution. In
those days the location was at Cragmont
Assembly, near Black Mountain, North
Carolina. When the decision was made to move
to Mount Olive, there was $6.17 in the budget for
higher education. Today Mount Olive College
pumps nearly $5 million annually into the Mount
Olive/Wayne County economy.

With a strong commitment to student finan-
cial aid, Mount Olive College awarded $1.3
million in scholarships and grants during the
1984-85 academic year. College-sponsored,
federal, and state funds are available at Mount
Olive to help students pursue their education
beyond high school level.

New Degrees and Faculty

Complete four-year degree programs were
offered for the first time in 1985. Students may

now earn bachelor of arts, science and applied
science degrees at Mount Olive College. Areas of
study include liberal arts, business administra-
tion, religion, recreation, general studies and
church ministries. The bachelor of applied
science degree was designed especially for
graduates of community and technical colleges.
Associate degrees, transfer programs and
business certificates are available as always.

With the addition of baccalaureate degrees
came the need for professors with doctorates.
Five were appointed— Dr. Charles Phillips,
English; Dr. William H. Huffman, psychology;
Dr. James L. White, business; Dr. Ram U. Ver-
ma, mathematics; and Dr. E. Ron Mendell,
recreation studies.

Three other members of the College faculty
are pursuing their doctoral studies— Elizabeth L.
Braswell in English, James A. Coats in business,
and Willis A. Brown in science. They expect to
complete their studies by mid-1986.

Challenges Met

One of the greatest challenges for Mount
Olive College came in October with the an-
nouncement of a $500,000 challenge grant. The
College raised an equal amount for endowment
to qualify for the grant by February 22, 1986, well
before the July 15 deadline.

An ongoing challenge is the development of
the library for the senior college program. The

18

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

major requirement is a minimum of 50,000
volumes in the library. During the year, 3,000
were added to the library, bringing the total col-
lection to 40,000. A schedule was set for acquiring
an additional 10,000 new books needed by 1988.

The challenges extended to sports as Mount
Olive College moved from junior college status
to the four-year ranks, joining the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Last
year, in their final year of competition as a
junior college, the Trojans won the annual Pickle
Classic Basketball Tournament.

Men's soccer and women's volleyball and
tennis will be added to the intercollegiate pro-
gram in 1986.

Meeting the challenge to graduate students
who are "computer literate," computers were
purchased for a second computer lab. In addi-
tion, most administrative areas of the College
have also begun using computers for the day-to-
day operations.

Physical Changes

Several physical changes took place during
the year. The need for additional student housing
was met with the construction of two new apart-
ment complexes which house 64 students. Each
apartment consists of an attractively furnished
kitchen, living/dining room area, a bath and four
private bedrooms. Upper classmen were given
priority in the new housing.

The facilities at College Hall were enhanced
with the construction of a major parking lot and
the installation of parking lot lights.

The student center was redesigned to house
the office of the vice president for Student Af-
fairs and the director of Career Planning and
Placement, who assists students with their
career choices and in-job placement.

Outstanding Cultural Programs

The annual Cultural Arts and Lecture Series
brought outstanding programs to the communi-
ty. Mount Olive College hosted a spectacular
"Space Week" in September. Noted space scien-
tist, Dr. Brian O'Leary of California, thrilled his
audience with projections of future life in outer
space.

Within the same week, NASA astronaut
William E. Thornton, a native of Faison, came to
the campus to return the Mount Olive College
four-year charter. Thornton had carried the
charter with him on board the spaceship
Challenger, traveling 110 orbits— 2,511,592 miles
around the earth.

The 1985 Pierson Lecturer was world-
renowned clergyman, Dr. A. Purnell Bailey,
writer of the syndicated column, "Daily Bread."

The full North Carolina Symphony per-
formed in College Hall for the first time during
the 1984-85 year. College Hall also hosted the
symphony's Children's Concerts for fourth and
fifth grade students in Wayne County.

Special Singers Performances

There were two unexpected additions to the
performance schedule of the Mount Olive Col-
lege Singers. In January, the Singers were in-
vited to represent North Carolina in "The In-
augural Entertainment Company" at the 50th
Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC.
Their schedule included the nationally televised
opening ceremonies and performances through
the city, including one of the five inaugural balls.

Another unexpected invitation was issued in
July. The group was asked to be part of the
pageantry-filled show of the 75th National Boy
Scout Jamboree at Fort Hill, Virginia. Perform-
ing in the "Great American Entertainment Com-
pany," the Singers shared the spotlight with the
Beach Boys, the Naval Academy Band, and
multiple jet flyovers.

Dinners Reach All-time High

Each year 17 gift support dinners are held by
Free Will Baptists in eastern North Carolina in
support of Mount Olive College. The College
received $202,657— the goal was $200,000.

Wayne County distinguished itself two ways
in support of Mount Olive. First, the county
churches made the largest contribution of any
county in the history of the dinners. The amount,
$32,295, was $12,045 over its goal of $20,250. Sec-
ond, Spring Hill Church, with a membership of
92, contributed $7,305. This was the largest
amount ever given by a single church.

The list of 1985 accomplishments could go on
and on. One fact is sure— Mount Olive College is
growing. The four-year program was a challenge
to be met, but it isn't the end of the College's ad-
vancement.

"This year has witnessed a growing en-
thusiasm and commitment toward making
Mount Olive a great Christian college," says Dr.
W. Burkette Raper, president of Mount Olive
College. "Our work is not completed. We are, in-
deed, preparing to make 1986 an even greater
year! "

In other words, watch out 1986, HERE WE
COME!

(From the progress edition of the Goldsboro News Argus,
published February 27.)

March 1986

19

■HHHUHHHHHMOUNT OLIVE COLLEGEI

REMEMBERING WILLIAM (BILL) LEROY DALE

Alma S. and the late Rev. William (Bill) L. Dale.

Bill Dale lived 68 years and
two months: July 17,
1917-September 17, 1985. At
the age of 49, on January 20,
1967, he was ordained into the
ministry of the Original Free
Will Baptist Church and spent
the last 19 years of his life as
pastor of Spring Hill Church in
Wayne County.

Under his leadership, the
church experienced the
greatest development in its
history. In addition to an exten-
sive building program, the
church, with a membership of
less than one hundred, rose to
the forefront in its support of
denominational enterprises.
Undergirding this visible
development was a quality of
spiritual vitality which
characterizes the church and
its members.

Working side by side with Bill
was his faithful wife of nearly
40 years, Alma, whose musical
talents are known by Free Will
Baptists throughout North
Carolina.

The pilgrimage of Bill's life
which led to his effective
ministry goes back to his youth,
when, at the age of 17, he ac-
cepted Jesus Christ as his
Saviour. Twenty-five years
later he made a rededication of
his life to Christ and joined
Stoney Creek Church. Here he
served as a Sunday School
teacher, deacon, member of the
building committee, treasurer,
and delegate to many
denominational events. It was
by Stoney Creek Church that he
was licensed as a minister in

1966. It was to this church that
his body was returned for
funeral services and burial.
Three of his close friends in the
ministry, the Revs. Joseph In-
gram, Harold Jones, and Gary
M. Bailey, officiated.

The account of Bill's
ministry, however, does not
end here.

A Living Memorial

Following Bill's death in-
dividuals, families, and church
organizations made memorial
gifts to Mount Olive College.
His wife established an endow-
ment to which the memorial
gifts were transferred; and on
January 26, Spring Hill Church
observed "William L. and
Alma S. Dale Endowment
Day." Dr. W. Burkette Raper,
president of the College, was
the speaker; and an offering
was received for the Dale En-
dowment.

Dr. Raper described Bill
Dale as a man anointed of God,
who, like his Lord, preached
the gospel and healed the
brokenhearted. "The greatest
tribute we can pay to Bill's
memory is to pray that God will
send us more like him, and then
help those whom He sends to
equip themselves to fulfill their
calling. Through the Bill and
Alma Dale Endowment we can
extend their ministry far
beyond their years on earth,"
he declared.

THE WILLIAM L. AND ALMA S. DALE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive, North Carolina

The William L. and Alma S. Dale Scholarship Endowment is established by
Alma S. Dale as a memorial to her husband, William L. Dale.

All gifts to the Dale Endowment will be invested according to fiduciary
policies established by the Board of Trustees of Mount Olive College. Previous
gifts in memory of William L. Dale are to be placed in the Dale Endowment. The
earnings from the Fund will be used to provide scholarships for students prepar-
ing for:

1. The Christian ministry;

2. Christian missionary work; and

3. Christian service.

Additional contributions to the Dale Endowment may be made in any
amount, at any time, by members of the Dale family, friends, churches and any
other interested persons.

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Waters Brings Chapel Message— Mount Olive College Chaplain Frank Harrison,
left, pauses with the Rev. Marvin Waters, who spoke recently at Rodgers Chapel. A
1973 graduate of Mount Olive College. Waters is pastor of St. Mary's Church in New
Bern. In his message, Waters encouraged the students to dedicate themselves to a life
of service (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

CAROLINE C. ROUSE
RESIGNS

Married in November to Roy
Rouse of La Grange, Mrs.
Caroline Castelloe Rouse has
resigned as Registrar after 20
years of service to Mount Olive
College. Her husband, Roy
Rouse of La Grange, is the
owner of Rouse Transportation
Company. Mrs. Rouse leaves
Mount Olive to assist in the
family business.

She was honored during
Spring Convocation for her con-
tributions to the life of the Col-
lege.

"Twenty years ago, when the
College consisted of the
downtown campus," said Dr.
W. Burkette Raper, president
of Mount Olive College, "Miss
Caroline Castelloe joined our
math faculty. During the years,
she has served with dedication
and love, and now she is mov-
ing on to another stage in her
life."

A special plaque was
awarded to Mrs. Rouse. The in-
scription read:

Presented to Caroline Castelloe
Rouse in appreciation of 20 years
of service rendered to Mount Olive
College as Teacher, Counselor,
Registrar, 1965-1985.

Mrs. Caroline C. Rouse shares a few
remembrances during Spring Convoca-
tion after receiving a presentation honor-
ing her for 20 years of service at Mount
Olive College (photo by Patti
O'Donoghue).

CELEBRATE
EASTER EVERY DAY

by Dave Kimberly

There is no event in all of
human history which is more
stunning or more revolutionary
than the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Truly, if Jesus did rise
from the dead then we have
good news to proclaim from the
rooftops. If He did not, then we
are the sorriest of all people,
for we have believed in a
falsehood. Happily, such is not
the case. There is still God's
Word which speaks to our lives
and to the world.

While Easter is a special oc-
casion that we celebrate only
once a year, I feel that it is an
event that we should celebrate
each day. As we live in Christ
we arise renewed every day; as
we live in Christ we experience
Him and the power of His Re-
surrection every day. We are
blessed to have every aspect of
our lives anointed by the good
news that has been proclaimed
to us.

March 1986

21

CHILDREN'S HOMEI

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval.
He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.

JUDGING DEVELOPMENT

The process of maturing is difficult for
children, and sometimes parents make it harder
than it has to be. However, if we expect behavior
that is natural for a child's immature
state — sometimes obedient, sometimes
rebellious— the child can live up to the standards
set. Casual praise for obedience, without blame
for other times, will encourage children. Then,
they will please you with progress toward
mature actions.

We add to children's problems when we tend
to judge their actions as "good" or "bad." Too
often, we call quiet, clean and obedient children
"good" because they are less bothersome than
are dirty, unruly, boisterous children. We must
not expect too much too soon. If we think of
children as "little adults" rather than as the im-
mature persons they are, we may assume that
they can judge right from wrong. If we punish
children before they can understand "good" and
"bad" we can start an unhappy round of com-
mands, rebellion, and punishment. Children get
a sense of security from knowing that their
strong inner feelings are not overwhelming to
their parents. As they grow, they look to their
parents for control, control that forms the pat-
tern that children eventually establish for
themselves. If we understand that they still have
a lot of growing up to do and that they need both
freedom and controls, life with them can be a
delight.

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

{CHILDREN'S HOME

SHOWERS OF PENNIES

On December 8, 1985, Fellowship Church in Wilson observed
Children's Home Day. During the morning worship, Bobby R.
Taylor, executive director, shared current information about the
child-care ministry. He also brought the morning message relating
the Triangle for Successful Living. The message centered around
the family roles and relationships.

Preparation for the day began months before with a penny
drive. The members saved their pennies, and after the service, the
pastor, Harold Swinson, and members presented several con-
tainers of pennies making a contribution of $130.

We want to take this time to thank the members of Fellowship
Church and the pastor for sharing their prayers, concern and sup-
port.

PREPARING FOR SERVICES

Working with children is one
of the most rewarding and
challenging professions in life.
Children come into our child-
care ministry from many dif-
ferent backgrounds, life situa-
tions and experiences. To deal
with all these dynamics effec-
tively, we must train ourselves
in these skills so that we may be
worthy of our calling.

On January 15, 1986, the staff
attended an on-campus train-
ing session in Preventive In-
tervention Techniques (PIT).
This training session dealt with
many aspects in child care. One
of its primary goals was to help
the child-care worker under-
stand the importance and value
of building relationships with
children. It is of utmost impor-
tance to know, understand, and
relate to the children in our

care. Learning how to evaluate
different criteria, the environ-
ment, yourself, and the child, is
not as easy as it may seem. It is
easy at times to handle each
criterion separately, but when
combined they can become
very complex.

As we are called by God to be
of service in His work, it is also
a call to prepare ourselves to be
the best servants possible.
Child-care is a special
ministry. To be a part of a
ministry that has provided "a
Christian home for boys and
girls" for over 65 years, is a
high calling for which we
should be proud and honored.
During each year on our cam-
pus, the child- care workers are
asked to better prepare
themselves for the high quality
of caring for the special needs
of children.

This preparation takes many
forms, i.e. group meetings in
problem solving, sharing past
experiences, workshops,
seminars, conferences and
spiritual guidance. Through
this commitment, we are able
to train our children each day
and each moment of each day.
Thank you for your prayers, for
they are the foundation of your
child-care ministry.

The Free Will Baptist
Children's Home is seeking
a qualified person to fill the
position of Director of
Child Care. Applicants
must be 21 years of age,
possess a four-year degree
(and preferably a Masters)
from an accredited four-
year college in social work,
psychology, child care or
related humanities. Ap-
plicants must also have
had at least two year's ex-
perience in the field of
social work, psychology,
child care or related
humanities. Salary will be
commensurate with ability
and experience.

For further information,
you may call 1-919-235-
2161; or write to: Free Will
Baptist Children's Home,
Inc., Box 249, Middlesex,
NC 27557.

March 1986

23

STATE LEAGUE

CONVENTION

NORTH CAROLINA STATE CONVENTION

OF

FREE WILL BAPTIST LEAGUES

Winterville Free Will Baptist Church
W inter ville, North Carolina
March 8, 1986

CONVENTION THEME: "Leaguers: Training

for God's Service"
CONVENTION SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 2:15
THEME SONG: "Onward, Christian Leaguers"

9 : 30 — Re gistration

10:00— Chorus Singing, Pam Kennedy

—Devotions, Kirby Bolin, Christian Chapel
—Welcome, Alton Ray Hines, Winterville
—Response, Aspen Grove League

10:20— President's Remarks, Lloyd Jones Jr.

10:25— Appointment of Committees

—Reading Minutes and Treasurer's Report
—Old Business

—Christian Cadet Conference Report,
the Rev. Bobby Taylor
10:30— State Sword Drill, Mrs. Margaret Ard
10:55— Hymn 137, "Praise Him! Praise Him!"

—Offering

—Model League Workshops:

Story Hour I (Beginners), Mrs. Deb-
orah Rollins, Mrs. Barbara Yates
Story Hour II, Mrs. Barbara Barfield,

Mrs. Carol Ay cock
Juniors, Becky Jo Sumner
Teenage, Mrs. Madge Vanhorn
Adult, the Rev. C. H. Overman
Youth Ages Through 8, Mrs. Cindi
Brown

Youth Ages 9 Up, Pam Kennedy
—Chorus Singing for Youth
12:00— Lunch

1:00— Singspiration, Three Leagues
1:30— New Business

—Committee Reports

—Election of Officers
1:50— Hymn 412, "Onward, Christian Leagu-
ers"

—League Benediction

*************

Pianist: Mrs. Maria Ham
Organist: Mrs. Linda Weathersby
Ushers : Aspen Grove League

Christian Chapel League

Mount Zion League

Sound Side League

"THE TRAINING BRANCH
OF THE CHURCH"

LEAGUE DEFINITION: The Training Service

of the Church
MOTTO: "The Kingdom of God First" (Matthew

6:33)

LEAGUE SONG: "Onward, Christian
Leaguers"

LEAGUE BENEDICTION: "... LORD watch
between me and thee, when we are absent
one from another" (Genesis 31:49).

1984-86 OFFICERS

President Lloyd Jones Jr.

Vice President The Rev. C. H. Overman

Mrs. Judy Moore
Miss Leah McGlohon
Miss Leah McGlohon
Mrs. Margaret Ard
The Rev. Ed Thornton

Miss Leah McGlohon

Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Treasurer

Promotional Secretary
Member-at-Large
Free Will Baptist

Press Representative
Cragmont

Representatives: Mrs. Charlene Howell (86)

James W. Cahoon (87)
The Rev. Bobby Taylor (88)

STUDY GUIDE FOR 1987
JUNIOR AND INTERMEDIATE SWORD
DRILL

North Carolina State Convention of Free Will Baptist Leagues
A Study of the Word LOVE

I

. Scripture Searching

1.

Proverbs 10:12

13.

Hebrews 13 : 1

2.

1 John 4:7

14.

Hosea 11:4

3.

Psalm 18:1

15.

John 13:35

4.

Romans 13 : 10

16.

Micah 6:8

5.

Proverbs 17:17

17.

2 Corinthians 5:14

6.

Revelation 3 : 19

18.

Deuteronomy 6 : 5

7.

1 Corinthians 13:4

19.

2 Peter 1:7

8.

Amos 5:15

20.

Joshua 22:5

9.

Matthew 5:44

21.

Romans 13:8

10.

Jeremiah 31 : 3

22.

Nehemiah 1 : 5

11.

Matthew 24:12

23.

Ephesians 3:19

12.

Proverbs 15:17

24.

Leviticus 19:18

II.

Unfinished Quotations

"For God so loved the world ..." (John
3:16).

"For the love of money is the root of all
evil . . ." (1 Timothy 6:10).
"A time to love, and a time to hate ..."
(Ecclesiastes 3:8).

"Husbands, love your wives ..." (Ephe-
sians 5:25).

"As many as I love, I rebuke ..." (Rev-
elation 3:19).

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

STATE LEAGUE CONVENTION ■

6. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God
. . ." (Mark 12:30).

7. "And now abideth faith, hope, love . . ."
( 1 Corinthians 13 : 13 ) .

8. "He that loveth his brother abideth in
the light . . ." (1 John 2:10).

9. "If ye fulfill the royal law according to
the scriptures ..." (James 2:8).

10. "But I say unto you which hear, Love
your enemies ..." (Luke 6:27).

11. "And above all these things put on love
. . ." (Colossians 3:14).

12. "That the aged men be sober, grave,
temperate . . ." (Titus 2:2).

III. Character Drill (Bible characters who in
some way spread the message of love)

1. John (Revelation 1:9)

2. Gaius (3 John 1:1)

3. Aaron (Exodus 28:1)

4. Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4)

5. Abel (Genesis 4:4)

6. Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22)

7. Angel (Luke 1:30-31)

8. Apollos (Acts 18:24)

9. Moses (Exodus 3:15-16)

10. David (Isaiah 9:7)

11. Jesus (Matthew 4:17)

12. Job (Job 42:1-2)

13. Paul (Acts 16:9)

14. Peter (Acts 2:38)

15. Rahab (Joshua 6:23)

16. Saul (Acts 9:4-6)

17. Woman of Samaria (John 4:28-29)

18. Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25)

19. Apphia and Archippus (Philemon 1:2)

20. Titus (Titus 1:4)

21. Luke and Mark (2 Timothy 4:11)

22. Onesimus (Colossians 4:9)

23. Timothy (1 Corinthians 16:10)

24. Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3)

IV. Book Drill

1.

Luke

13.

Ecclesiastes

2.

2 Chronicles

14.

2 Peter

3.

Ephesians

15.

Joshua

4.

Ezekiel

16.

Romans

5.

Hebrews

17.

Obadiah

6.

Malachi

18.

2 John

7.

Colossians

19.

Numbers

8.

2 Samuel

20.

Titus

9.

Acts

21.

Ezra

10.

Isaiah

22.

Galatians

11.

2 Thessalonians

23.

Daniel

12.

Nahum

24.

Matthew

V. Topical Drill (A continued study of the
love)

1. Dinner (Proverbs 15:17)

2. Friends (John 15:13)

3. Mind (2 Corinthians 13:11)

4. Faith (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

5. Love (Revelation 2:4)

6. Prosper (Psalm 122:6)

7. Perfect (1 John 4:18)

8. Commandment (John 15:12)

9. Believing (1 Peter 1:8)

10. Hypocrisy (Romans 12:9)

11. Years (Genesis 29:20)

12. Work (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

13. Heart (1 Timothy 1:5)

14. Ministered (Hebrews 6:10)

15. Grudge (Leviticus 19:18)

16. Neighbor (Galatians 5:14)

17. Meekness (Ephesians 4:2)

18. Lady (2 John 1:5)

19. Circumcision (Galatians 5:6)

20. Rooted (Ephesians 3:17)

21. One another (John 13:34)

22. Witness (Revelation 1:5)

23. World (1 John 2:15)

24. Sober-minded (Titus 2:4)
VI. Doctrinal Drill

1. The Bible teaches the Ten Command-
ments (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7).
Read the first verse of either one.

2. The Bible teaches the Lord's Prayer
(Matthew 6:9-13). Read verse 9.

3. The Bible teaches Jesus' Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew 5-7). Read 5:1; 7:29.

4. The Bible teaches the Love Chapter
(1 Corinthians 13). Read verse 1.

5. The Bible teaches us that all have
sinned (Romans 3:23).

6. The Bible teaches us how to be saved
(Romans 10:9-10).

7. The Bible teaches us that anyone can be
saved (Romans 10:13).

8. The Bible teaches us that Jesus saves us
from our sins (John 3:17).

9. The Bible teaches us that Jesus was
wounded and crucified for our sins
(Isaiah 53:7-8).

10. The Bible teaches us how to pray (Mat-
thew 7:7-8).

11. The Bible teaches us that God answers
prayer (1 John 5:14).

12. The Bible teaches us that we may know
that we have been saved (1 John 5:13).

Bibles will be provided. Any church or youth
group may have a junior or an intermediate con-
testant in the State Bible Sword Drill. However,
at the Convention the church must register with
a $15 registration fee.

For more Information, call or write: Mrs. Margaret Ard, Route 1, Box 155,
Pink Hill, NC 28572; phone, 568-4685.

March 1986

KEEPERS
OF THE
s FAITH

STATE YOUTH
CONVENTION

MAY 16-18, 1986

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 16

SATURDAY, MAY 17

5:00 P.M.

Registration— College

7

:30 A.M.

Breakfast— Downtown

Hall

Campus

6:00 P.M.

Supper— New Campus

8

:00 A.M.

Breakfast Meeting for

5:00-6:30 P.M.

Registration of Arts

Bible Bowl

and Crafts— Col-

Judges—Place TBA

lege Hall,

Breakfast Meeting

Classroom B

for Candidates—

6:30 P.M.

Practice for Talent

Place TBA

Show— College Hall

8

30 A.M.

Registration at College

(Auditorium Open

Hall for Those Not

Only to Talent

Yet Registered

Show Participants,

9:00-10

00 A.M.

Business Session for

6:30-7:45 p.m.)

Campaign

7:00 P.M.

Choir Practice for

Speeches— College

Youth Convention

Hall (Polls Open 10

Choir

A.M.-l P.M.)

7:00 P.M.

Judging of Arts and

10

00 A.M.

Bible Bowl Competi-

Crafts (Judges

tion*

Only)

10:

30 A.M.

Public Speaking*

8:00 P.M.

Talent Competition

Lesson Presentation

9:30 P.M.

Vespers: YF A— Outside

11:

00 A.M.

Cragmont Slides

Library; AFC—

11:00—1:

00 P.M.

Lunch

Outside Chapel; Bi-

12:

00 P.M.

District First Place

ble Bowl Con-

Winner's Luncheon

testants and

1:

00 P.M.

Registration for Those

Coaches — College

Not Yet

Hall !

Registered—

10:15-10:45 P.M.

Refreshment Break

College Hall

26 THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

1:30 P.M
3:00-3:30 P.M
3:30 P.M

1:30 P.M. Afternoon Business Ses-
sion—Installment
of Officers Im-
mediately Follow-
ing—College Hall
Adult Seminar— Chapel
Refreshment Break
Recreation Time (Soft-
ball, Kickball, Ten-
nis, Basketball Will
Be Available as
Well as Special Ac-
tivities for
Cherubs)
Choir Practice
Supper— New Campus
Awards Presenta-
tion—College Hall
8:00 P.M. Evening Program—
WRAL Radio Personality
Famous Bob Inskeep

4:45 P.M
5:30 P.M
7:00 P.M

WRAL-FM101

North Carolw's "CkS^FAA

9:30 P.M.

10:15-10:45 P.M.
SUNDAY, MAY 18

8:00 A.M.

Vespers: YF A— Outside

Library ;

AFC— Outside

Chapel
Refreshment Break

Breakfast— Downtown
Campus

10:00 A.M. Morning Worship—
Rodgers Chapel

General Information

Cost of meals provided by Mount Olive College
Cafeteria will be $2, breakfast; and $2.75,
lunch and supper.

Cost of lodging overnight will be $8 per person
per night.

The College will furnish linens, bath cloths,

towels, and soap.
Guests must bring their own pillows, blankets,

money for meals and snacks, Bible,

notebook and pencil, and casual clothes for

the weekend.
The Free Will Baptist Press and Mount Olive

College bookstores will be open on Saturday.
Rooms will be assigned in order as registration

forms are received (first received, first

served).

Money for lodging should be sent with a $20
registration fee (per church) by May 1, 1985.

Money for meals will be collected at the time of
the meal.

REGISTRATION FORM

Name of Churchy
Address

Please give address and phone number of person we may
contact to answer questions about your group's registra-
tion:

Name

Address

Phone Number

Names of adults supervising young people staying overnight
at the Convention ( at least one adult male and one adult
female) :

Total number of youth and adults lodging overnight :

Total x $8 Total

Friday

Males (12 and under)
Males (13 and up)
Females (12 and under).
Females (13 and up)

Saturday Total x $8 Total

Males (12 and under)

Males (13 and up)

Females (12 and under)

Females (13 and up)

Registration fee (per church)
Total amount enclosed

$20.00

Total number of youth and adults eating meals pro-
vided by MOC cafeteria.

Friday Saturday Sunday

Breakfast

Lunch

Supper

•No meals served at this time

Registration forms, along with lodging money
and registration fee, should be sent to:

Joan Little
Route 2, Box 347-C
Farmville, NC 27828
Phone: (919) 753-3217

March 1986

27

NEWS BRIEFS

THE ANNUAL ALBE-
MARLE SUNDAY SCHOOL
CONVENTION/WORKSHOP
will be held Friday, March
14. The Convention will con-
vene at Plymouth Church in
Plymouth. Dianne Riley, of
Mount Olive College, will be
the workshop leader. The
theme of the workshop will
be "Back to Basics:
Teaching Fundamentals."

The workshop will begin
at 7:00 p.m. with the
business session of the
Convention, followed by the
presentation by Ms. Riley.
All area churches are invited
for this informative pro-
gram. All Albemarle Con-
ference churches are en-
couraged to support the
Convention through atten-
dance, finances, and most
importantly, prayers.

THE SPRING MEETING
OF THE FREE WILL BAP-
TIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY
is planned for March 8, in
the Free Will Baptist
Historical Collection, Moye
Library, Mount Olive Col-
lege. All members and in-
terested persons are invited
to attend. A special program
is being planned .and new
officers will be elected.

THE CAPE FEAR UNION
MEETING will be held on
Saturday, March 29, at
Smyrna Church. The
scheduled program is as
follows:

10:00— Hymn, Congrega-
tion

— Devotion, the Rev.
Alan Lamm

— Welcome, Host
Church

— Response, Mrs. Bob-
by Tew

10:20— Enrollment of Offi-
cers and Visitors

— Recognition of Visi-
tors

— Reading of Minutes
of Last Union

— Roll Call of Church-
es

— Report of Denomina-
tional Enterprises

— Miscellaneous Busi-
ness

11:15— Hymn, Congrega-
tion

—Special Music
; —Offering and Offer-
tory Prayer

— Message, the Rev.
Ken Hardison

12:00— Report of Treasurer

— Report of Commit-
tees

— Unfinished Busi-
ness

— Benediction and Ad-
journment

— Lunch and Christian
Fellowship

THE FIRST UNION OF
THE WESTERN CON-
FERENCE will meet with
Calvary Church, Wilson, on
Saturday, March 15, at 10
a.m. The Rev. Clyde Cox is
the scheduled speaker. The
Rev. Keith Cobb is
moderator and the Rev.
James Joyner serves as
secretary.

(Please note: The change
in meeting date from the
Saturday before fifth Sun-
day to the third Saturday in
a fifth Sunday month begins
with this meeting.)

THE THIRD UNION OF
THE EASTERN CON-
FERENCE will meet with
First Church, Warsaw, on
March 29, at 9:30 a.m. All
laymen and pastors are en-
couraged to attend this
meeting.

THE CENTRAL CON-
FERENCE LAYMAN'S
LEAGUE will have its
quarterly meeting on Mon-
day, March 3, at 7 p.m. This
meeting will be held at
King's Cross Roads Church,
located on county road 1245
at the intersection of 1247
(King's Cross Roads). A
meal will be served at 7,
with the meeting beginning
at 8 p.m.

THE WESTERN CON-
FERENCE LAYMAN'S
LEAGUE CONVENTION will
meet with Trinity Church,
located on Johnston Union
Road, Clayton, on Monday,
March 17, at 7:30 p.m. All
laymen are urged to attend.

HUGO CHURCH, Route 2,
Grifton, will hold revival ser-
vices March 3-7, with ser-

vices beginning each eve-
ning at 7:30. The Rev. Bass
Mitchell of Goldsboro will
be the evangelist.

ROBERT'S GROVE
CHURCH, Route 1, Dunn,
will hold a series of revival
services March 3-7. Services
will begin each evening at
7:30 and there will be
special singing. The pastor,
the Rev. Calvin Heath, will
be preaching each night.

Everyone is cordially in-
vited to attend these ser-
vices.

ST. MARY'S GROVE
CHURCH, Route 3, Benson,
will hold revival services,
March 10-14. The Rev. Roy
Clifton, pastor of Sherron
Acres Church, Durham, will
be the guest evangelist.

The Friday evening ser-
vices will be followed with
refreshments in the
fellowship building.

The Rev. Rod Jones,
pastor, and the congrega-
tion invite everyone to at-
tend these services.

REVIVAL SERVICES
HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED
AT EDGEWOOD CHURCH,
near Crisp, March 26-28, at
7:30 p.m. The evangelist will
be the Rev. Robert Strick-
land.

THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP will
meet with Marlboro Church,
Farmville, on Saturday,
March 15. Registration
begins at 9 a.m. and each
church is reminded of the
registration fee ($10). Spring
competitions are scheduled
for this meeting.

THE SPRING CONVEN-
TION OF THE EASTERN
DISTRICT WOMAN'S AUX-
ILIARY will be held on
Thursday, March 20, at
Spring Hope Church, in
Craven County. (The church
is about five miles south of
Bridgeton on Rural Road
1620.) Registration begins
at 9:30 a.m.

THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
CONVENTION will meet

with Peace Church,
Pinetops, on March 22.
Registration begins at 9:30
a.m. The theme for the Con-
vention is "The LORD Hath
Done Great Things for Us"
(Psalm 126:3).

(Peace Church is located
approximately two miles
west of Pinetops on
Highway 42.)

NORTHEAST CHURCH,
Route 5, Mount Olive, will
be engaged in a three-night
revival March 18-20.

The Rev. Bobby Tew will
speak on Tuesday evening.
His topic is "Revival in the
Family, the First Establish-
ment for Enduring Relation-
ship With God and Man."
The Rev. O. B. Everett Jr.
will address the topic
"Revival Among the Youth,
the Hope of an Enduring
Society of Tomorrow" on
Wednesday evening. The
Thursday evening speaker
is the Rev. David Charles
Hansley, who will use as his
topic "Revival in the Sunday
School, the Enduring Con-
crete Educational Arm of
the Church." Services begin
each evening at 7:30.

The Rev. A. B. Byran,
pastor will climax the series
on Sunday morning, March
23, during the 11 a.m. wor-
ship service, with the sub-
ject, "The Church at Work,
Leading in Safety, Proper
Relationship Among Men
and Eternal Destiny."

GUM SWAMP CHURCH,
two miles east of Belvoir,
has scheduled revival ser-
vices for March 24-28. The
Rev. Robert May will be the
guest evangelist. Services
begin nightly at 7:30.

SMYRNA CHURCH,
Blounts Creek, has sche-
duled revival services for
March 3-7, with services
beginning each evening at
7:30. The Rev. Chuck
Richardson will be the
guest evangelist. The Rev.
A. G. Smith, pastor, and the
congregation cordially in-
vite everyone to attend.

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

MINISTERS AVAILABLE

The Rev. Steve Starnes
announces that he will be
available for full-time ser-
vice on March 16, 1986. He
is a member in good stand-
ing in the Eastern Con-
ference; he will relocate if
needed. You may contact
him at: Box 298, Oriental,

The Rev. James Warren
announces that he is
available for part-time or
full-time pastoral services.
Anyone wishing to contact
him can do so at 100 Poplar
Street, Kinston, NC 28501;

or by calling him at
527-1648.

The Rev. Roger Heath an-
nounces that he is available
for full-time or part-time
pastoral services. He may
be contacted by writing to
him at Route 2, Box 536,
Dudley, NC 28333; or by
phoning 658-4583.

Cragmont
Assembly

WINTERVILLE CHURCH, MINISTERS AVAILABLE NC 28571; or by phone,

Winterville, will have its The Rev. Steve Starnes 249-1329.

spring revival, March 24-28,
beginning at 7:30 p.m. The
Rev. Bruce Jones of Ayden
will be the speaker.

THE CENTRAL CON-
FERENCE ORDAINING
COUNCIL will meet on Mon-
day, April 7. The meeting
will be held at First Church,
Greenville, and will begin at
10 a.m. Anyone having
business with the Council is
asked to contact the Rev.
Ray Williamson; phone
758-4356.

DR. BILLY GRAHAM
sponsors several Schools of
Evangelism every year. The
schools planned for 1986
will be held in Washington,
DC; Wheaton, IL. and
Tallahassee, FL. The Home
Missions Department has
been given several scholar-
ships to this year's schools.
If you are interested in
securing one of the scholar-
ships, contact the Depart-
ment by writing to it at Box
39, Ayden, NC 28513; or by
phoning 746-4963. The
dates for the schools are as
follows: Washington, April
28— May 2; Wheaton, June
16-19; Tallahassee,
November 3-7.

CHURCH AVAILABLE

Wardens Grove Church,
Lowland, is in need of a full-
time pastor. Any minister
who is interested should
contact Mr. Roscoe Rice;
phone 745-3669.

Reedy Branch Church,
Winterville, is seeking a
part-time youth director.
Anyone interested should
contact the Rev. Willis
Wilson (756-1911) or Mr Earl
Deal (752-7580).

Edited and published monthly by the Eree Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 81 1 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist. P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states,
$8.50, $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches
Churches are bil'ed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m —5 p.m., Monday — Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President, Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Robert Hadden, Production Manager; Janie Jones Sowers,
Editor of Literature.

MORNING STAR RETREAT

Annual

Women's Mini-Conference
Friday, April 18— Sunday, April 20

Co-Directors:
Dola Dudley and
Becky Jo Sumner

Mail your registration fee,
with your name and address to:
I Mrs. Alice Barrow

Cost: $35, Includes Two Nights and Four Meals R0ute 2, Box 375

(Saturday Breakfast— Sunday Breakfast) Snow Hill, nc 28580
Registration Fee: $10, Balance Due on Arrival

Come and Be Refreshed!

March 1986

29

Experience His Love

JESUS, I LOVE YOG is all about kids and teachers and fun and Bible
discovery and love. This all-new VBS series for 1986 will fill the minds of
students with gratitude and praise as they study examples from the Book of
John emphasizing Jesus' electrifying love. Indeed the invitation of JESGS, I
LOVE YOG is that of John himself: "We love him, because he first loved us"
(1 John 4:19).

JESUS, I LOVE YOG is a unique, fun-filled opportunity for VBS students
to experience Jesus' love ... from the Gospel of love ... and in their new-
found knowledge they will respond in faith, evangelism, kindness, praise,
loving service, total commitment. The student is convinced that Jesus' love
is just as real today as it was 2000 years ago. In joyous praise he responds,
"JESGS, I LOVE YOG!"

JESGS, I LOVE YOG has only one source of inspiration: God's Word.
Every lesson is deeply anchored in Scripture and offers a healthy balance of
Bible teaching and theme-related pupil activities.

JESGS, I LOVE YOG is all new. No VBS series from Standard is ever
repeated. Even though the Bible stories are familiar and much loved, each
one features an abundance of fresh, new learning activities to help the stu-
dent apply Biblical insights into his own life.

JESGS, I LOVE YOG provides more than 100 tools — from teacher texts
to crafts to publicity aids to awards — all to help you reach your vital teaching
goals of winning students to Christ and nurturing them in His love.

JESGS, I LOVE YOG is a flexible course of study. It may be used with
maximum teaching effectiveness in 10-Day and 5-Day schools; rural
or urban schools; day camps; weekly Bible clubs; and weekday
classes. It works well in formal classrooms and in backyard
Bible clubs. JESGS, I LOVE YOG shares your goals of win-
ning young people to Christ and nurturing them in their
Christian walk. Come along, if you want to grow!

Want to know more? Attend the course preview nearest
you:

Ayden Bible and Bookstore
811 North Lee Street
%m Ayden, NC 28513

March 7, 7 p.m.

St. Mary's Church
314 Fleet Street
New Bern, NC
March 22, 7 p.m.

Oak Grove Church
Bladenboro, NC
April 3, 7:30 p.m.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL

TEAM SPIRIT?

The setting was a university classroom.
Class had not begun yet and the students were
discussing their plans for the approaching
holidays. Two girls were involved in a conversa-
tion about their plans for the season. One of them
bemoaned the fact that she would have to attend
basketball practice throughout the entire vaca-
tion period. The other girl, rather matter of fact-
ly, suggested that she not go. Since she was
already on the team, and since she was one of the
best players on that team, it really would not
matter if she missed practice.

"But I have to go," the athlete insisted. "I'm
on the team." She shook her head at the thought
of such an incredulous suggestion. For her the
case was closed; there existed no alternative for
her to consider. Since she was on the team, she
had a responsibility to the rest of that team and
she must attend practice, irregardless of the day
or time of that practice.

This situation is quite analogous to the Chris-
tian life. A number of us are on the team ; but we
seem to have forgotten that the championship
game is approaching. You see, there was a time
when many of us chose to fight for the cause of
Christ. We became members of the holy team
competing against rulers, authorities, powers of
this dark world, against spiritual forces of evil
(Ephesians 6:12).

And what about the game? Take a
minute— look at your uniform. Is it torn and dir-
ty? Are you out of shape? Have you lost your
team spirit and enthusiasm? Some are very
close to losing their right to wear a team
uniform.

Why is it we would not dream of missing our
favorite television program to attend Sunday
evening worship and prayer meeting? Not the
case, you say. Well, look at the attendance
figures at your church on the night the Super-
bowl was played. Realize that nearly one-third of
all American homes own a VCR then understand
how few of them were used that night and you
will see where our true commitment is.

Why do so many insist on leaving the Sunday
morning service early or right at twelve o'clock?
Why is it more important that we get to our
favorite restaurant early than souls be won to the
cause of Christ? Why are we more committed to
Jane Fonda and our soap operas than we are to
our daily quiet time?

Something else I have noticed: We consider
it a higher priority to make it to work when we
are on the verge of pneumonia than we do to go to

church when we have a headache. Oh yes,
another thing: Some say, "Well, I have a lot to do
at home on Saturday, so Sunday is the only time
my family and I have together. Think about the
minister whose wife works outside the par-
sonage. When are they supposed to have time
off? Whenever one of them has a few hours off,
the other is at work. But she doesn't need to
work, you say. Well, even their joint income may
make it necessary.

Now that spring is coming and summer is on
the way, the sun and water will become our gods
once more . . . and the team just has to get by the
best it can.

I am confident that this assessment has ruf-
fled more than one set of feathers. So in return, I
ask that you consider the following:

If I were your . . .

Wife . . . and you missed supper, I'd want to know where
you were!

Boss . . . and you missed work, I'd want to know where
you were!

Coach . . . and you missed practice, I'd want to know
where you were!

Golf partner . . . and you missed our tee-off, I'd want to
know where you were!

Car pool friend . . . and you missed picking me up, I'd
want to know where you were!

Teacher . . . and you missed class, I'd want to know
where you were!

But if I am your pastor, and you missed church Sunday,
and I want to know where you were, I would be con-
sidered nosy!

Somewhere along the line, our priorities
have gotten mixed up and we have pushed Christ
from the thrones of our lives. We are called to
love the Lord with our whole body, mind, soul
and strength— but this verse appears to have lost
its meaning.

Well, let's start again. Remember, the whole
team gets together on Sunday morning. Most of
the faithful are back on Sunday night. Smaller
groups gather at various times during the week.
And don't forget that daily practices are
necessary too! Don't be afraid to volunteer for
work— you know where your talents lie.

And for your lack of enthusiasm, you'll start
regaining it when you come back to practice on a
regular basis. It is not all that hard to stop warm-
ing the sideline benches. It just requires a little
time and effort.

The student basketball player dutifully relin-
quished part of her holiday to attend practice. If
you were on her team, would you do the same?
Your commitment to the Christian cause will
help you determine your answer.

March 1986

31

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRftRY
PERIODICALS

DURHftM NC £7706

SANDY

LEIGHTON FORD

tells the moving
story of his son

SANDY

LEIGHTON FORD

> nit- ;i;>

"Leighton, don't be worried.
Sandy is in the hospital. They
say there is a problem with his
heart. But we think he is going to
be all right."

So began a journey up a mountain of uncertainty,
hope, sorrow and joy. Here is the story of a young man
like so many others who wanted to do his best for his
family and for his God. But like so few others, he had a
rare heart problem that affected everything: his
studies,, his runniag*,his jdaiiag^is fa4#w4
we have a glimpse into the heart and soul of a father
and son who together face life's ultimate challenge.

Order from
Free Will Baptist Press
P.O. Box 159
AYDEN, NORTH CAROLINA

State tax where it applies

Shipping and handing— 10% of total order; minimum charge, $1.50

$9.95

32

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The Free Will April 1986/$1. 00

BAPTIST

The Monthly Publication for Today's Christian

Turning Failure Into Success

by Spiros Zodhiates

April, 1986
Vol. 101, No. k

For Preachers and Other Human Beings

by B. E. White

8

The Minister . . . Worthy of His Hire

by Roy J. Smith

11

"Go . . . Liberate!"

by Stephen Brown

13

Priority for 1986

by Joseph Chambers

DEPARTMENTS

14 Book News

15 Children's Home
20 Foreign Missions

23 Mount Olive College

27 State Youth Convention

29 News Briefs

31 Editorial

1

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

TURNING FAILURE INTO

SUCCESS

by Spiros Zodhiates

"Now when he had left speaking, he
said unto Simon, Launch out into the
deep, and let down your nets for a
draught" (Luke 5:4).

None of us goes through life
without experiencing some
failures and disappointments.
We set certain goals that we
believe are the best, but we can
never be absolutely sure. Suc-
cesses and failures may alter-
nate, but we must never think
that failure to achieve a
specific goal means our whole
life is a failure. In fact, failure
may cause us to reappraise our
goals and lead us to change
course in ways that will result
in something better.

Take my own case, for exam-
ple. From childhood I liked the
physical sciences. In college I
studied physics and mathema-

tics, and for a while my grades
were good. Then, in one sub-
ject, I just passed by the
skin of my teeth. I was keenly
disappointed; my pride was
hurt. I began to wonder if God
wanted me to pursue a different
goal. Was I moving toward the
place He wanted me to be, or
just where I wanted to go? As a
result of the reappraisal
caused by my failure, I
changed direction. I began to
preach instead of spending my
time solving mathematical
problems.

I realize now that if I had not
suffered disappointment as a
result of barely passing a sub-
ject in college, I might never
have changed my course. If I
had succeeded with flying col-
ors in that particular subject,
you might never have been

( Turn the Page )

April 1986

3

reading this message of en-
couragement in the Lord. As I
look back, I thank God for that
failure. It was divinely ap-
pointed, for He has given me in-
stead a worldwide ministry of
reaching souls for Christ.

Christ taught His disciples a
similar lesson in turning failure
into success. He performed two
miracles at the Lake of Galilee
that were almost identical.
Some of His disciples were
fishermen, and on both occa-
sions they had fished all night
but caught nothing. Christ told
them to cast their nets on the
right side of the ship. As a
result they caught so many fish
their nets could not hold them.

Two miracles: one took place
at the beginning of the Chris-
tian life and ministry of the
disciples, and the other near
the end of our Lord's sojourn
with them on earth.

Right from the beginning the
Lord wanted to teach the
disciples that though their lives
and ministries might be full of
disappointments and failures,
they must never give up,
because Christ would be with
them when they were at the end
of their own resources. His
word to the disciples— and to
us— is, "Launch out into the
deep, and let down your nets"
(Luke 5:4).

Again, at the end of His
earthly ministry, Christ came
to them with a similar com-
mand. It was a night of disap-
pointment where fishing was
concerned, but He said to them,
"Cast the net on the right side
of the ship, and ye shall find"
(John 21:6). Perhaps Christ
wanted to remind the disciples
of that first experience. Their
life in His service began with
disappointment, and it ended
with disappointment. Never-
theless it was a life of victory
and triumph because of the
help of Christ. He wanted to im-
press on them that any success

they experience, from the
beginning to the end, was owing
to His intervention and their
unhesitating obedience.

Christ may have repeated
this miracle because He knew
how easy it is for discouraged
disciples to give up. Failure is a
great teacher, but its lessons
are not always readily learned.

Among the first lessons the
disciples learned was that of
confidence in the trustwor-
thiness of Christ's word. Throw
out your nets and catch fish, He
told them; they threw the nets
and caught fish. He repeated
this scene before He ascended
into Heaven, before promising
them something that was even
more difficult to believe. He
told them not to leave
Jerusalem but to wait there for
the visitation of the Father, the
coming of the Holy Spirit, after
a few days (Acts 1:4-5). They
obeyed Him, for by now they
had learned their lesson. They
waited in Jerusalem for two
weeks, and their anxiety and
eagerness must have grown
day by day.

It is difficult to continue to
believe God's promises when
we do not see anything happen-
ing. Heaven above them did not
move, and everything on earth
seemed mobilized against
them. Those two weeks must
have been like the dark, un-
ending night of that fishing ex-
pedition that failed so
miserably.

But the Day of Pentecost
came, and with it the outpour-
ing of the Holy Spirit. What a
revolutionary and revolutioniz-
ing experience! How many
thousands of souls were caught
in the net of Christ! The
disciples believed and obeyed,
and Christ blessed. If they had
not obeyed, they would have
been left with their disappoint-
ment.

Follow their example. You
have absolutely nothing to gain

by disobeying Christ. Perhaps
you feel you are a failure. Do
not give up. Just put a period
after that chapter of your life
and try again. Continue to try
right where you are. Ending
your life will not solve your
problem ; moving away will not
help. When Christ said to throw
the net on the right side of the
ship, the disciples had already
tried every side and had failed.
But they had tried alone.
However, the effort that is
made at the command of Christ
can never fail.

Through these two miracles,
Christ showed His deity. Just
imagine the shame He would
have experienced if the
disciples had not caught
anything after He commanded
them to cast the net in again. If
you had stood on that shore,
would you have dared give such
a positive, definite order,
without any doubt as to the out-
come? I doubt it. You would
have been very hesitant,
especially having been in-
formed that the disciples had
fished all night and caught
nothing.

The same waters, the same
net, the same men; but failure
changed to success; for it was
Christ who gave the command.
Is it lack of faith in Christ that
is causing failure in your life?

Christ was crucified in
Jerusalem, yet He told His
disciples to wait there for a
blessing from Heaven. It was a
hard thing to do, for the sea of
public opinion was against
them. It seemed so barren. But
it proved to be fruitful. It is
almost unbelieveable what
Christ can do in your sea, in
your Jerusalem, to turn your
disappointment and failure into
a glorious triumph. All you
have to do is to believe Him and
obey Him.

— (Used by permission, Pulpit Helps. iFebruary,
1986.)

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

For Preachers . . .
and Other Human Beings

by B. E. White

How Not to Solve
the Church's Problem

Paradise Lost is the way both
pastor and people can feel
about their church when the
Serpent of Division has entered
it uninvited. Things can never
be the same again. Lay leaders
may be tempted to give up try-
ing to do anything in the
church, quit coming and giving,
or even move their member-
ship to another church. They
can also decide to stand up for
what they think is right, fight
the opposition, or try to force
the pastor to resign.

The pastor's natural tempta-
tion is to use the pulpit and
church publications to get back
at his enemies. When he is
under emotional strain he may
do this, but he knows that this is
not what he should do. The
agony of his emotional state is
thus compounded because he is
a person with a sensitive con-
science or else he probably
would not be a minister.

Conflict causes an emotional
drain on a pastor. The minister
under pressure is unable to do
his best work. His emotional in-
volvement in the church crisis
hinders his preaching and can
even get involved in it. The
minister in stress feels anguish,
disillusionment, anxiety,
frustration, numbness, confu-
sion, bewilderment, pain,
anger, hurt, depression, fear,
helplessness, disgust, betrayal,
and loneliness. He is nervous
and worried a lot of the time.
How can he express his emo-
tions? Who can he talk to? He
has no pastor. He cannot share
all his feelings even with his
most trusted laypersons
because he is still their pastor.

Ministers are reluctant to go
to their fellow ministers
because their good opinion is
necessary if they are to be well
thought of in the denomination
and receive recommendations
to other churches. The
ministers in an area are also in

a sense competitors as well as
peers. They may also know
what laypersons in a troubled
minister's church think of him.
He cannot talk freely with
another minister who does not
share his concepts of the
ministry and the same general
theological outlook. His friends
in the ministry may be so many
miles away that it is imprac-
tical to talk with them.

Numerous surveys show that
the only person the pastor can
talk freely with is his wife, and
she is his main support in a
time of crisis. But she is also
emotionally involved with him
and the problems he is having.

The trapped minister is in a
predicament. He may try to
wait it out and hope that he can
move. He may try to make the
best of a bad situation. He may
feel that he must try to stick it
out because he believes that he
can draw the church back
together again or ultimately

triumph over his enemies.

(Turn the Page)

April 1986

5

It is possible that staying
when he is under fire may be
just what the church needs,
especially if it has a history of
disturbances. There may be a
small group trying to dominate
the church, and the pastor is an
obstacle in their way. They
think that if they can get rid of
him all the church's problems
will be solved. That is never
true. Getting a new pastor is
not going to change the situa-
tion in the church. Every time
there is a controversy over the
minister, it does not mean that
he should move or that he ought
to be asked to resign. The
church may have trouble-
makers in it who will eventual-
ly oppose any pastor. They may
be negative people who meet
some twisted emotional need
by criticizing. The pastor is a
convenient target on whom
they can vent their feelings.

When the pastor and people
in a church are in conflict, all
involved must take an honest
look at what is going on and
how to solve their church's
problem. Ministers and layper-
sons alike need to remember
who and what they are— Chris-
tians. Someone asked a Jew
when he thought the Jews
would become Christians. He
replied, "When the Christians
become Christians."

Uncertainty About
Having a Job

A Baptist minister is always
just one vote away from
dismissal. All it takes to fire
him is a majority vote of those
present at any church con-
ference.

In our system it is usually the
kiss of death for a minister to
apply for a job. He is im-
mediately suspect. So when a
pastor learns of a vacant
church where he feels he might
fit, he begins to look around for
someone to recommend him to
that church. With proper

humility he approaches his
potential ally who may or may
not elect to help him. He passes
on information about himself to
the friend who passes it on to
the search committee. If he is
contacted by the committee, he
must naturally act surprised.

Often a minister cannot move
when he wants or needs to
move. So if he is going to stay in
the ministry, he must stick it
out where he is until something
opens up for him. For him this
can be like being in purgatory.
It can cleanse him so that he
emerges from his experience a
better person who has learned
to overcome his difficulties. Or
there can be so much punish-
ment in his predicament that he
may feel he has got to get out of
it at all costs.

The problem with a minister
leaving the ministry is that
there is not much demand for
the skills of an ex-pastor. For-
tunate indeed is a minister who
like Paul can be a tentmaker or
do something else if he has to.
But many of our ministers have
so committed themselves to the
ministry that from their college
years this is all they have done
and all they can do.

In some cases the longer a
minister has been in a par-
ticular church, the less job
security he may feel. Some peo-
ple may think that a change
would benefit both him and the
church, and they may be right.
A minister can experience
burnout. But he may not be able
to do anything about moving on
somewhere else, especially if
he is getting older.

All of these things together
can create a lot of job insecuri-
ty for the minister. But more
than any of these things is the
pressure that comes from the
people in the church.

Some people act like the
minister is a coach who must
produce a winning team. If
things are not going well, then
he ought to be replaced. They
don't take into account how
long he has been where he is or
how good a job he is doing. All
they look for are results. It's
bad enough to dismiss a coach
because of such reasoning. Fir-
ing a minister under such cir-
cumstances is adopting the
standards of the world.

I once talked with a woman
who was a teenager in a small
church that fired the minister
by a vote of one. She had been
among those who voted against
him because she thought he
ought to move on. He had to
leave the ministry because he
had nowhere else to go. She told
me about the sad day he moved
when she had to say goodbye to
his children who were her
friends. Only then did she
realize what she had helped to
do to that family. Now many
years later she still felt guilty
about her one vote which would
have made such a difference.

The only thing a minister can
depend on for job security is the
goodwill and sense of fair play
on the part of the people in his
church. He has to trust in them
to do what is right for his tem-
poral security as he trusts in
God for his "eternal" security.

Some people act like
the minister is a
coach who must
produce a winning
team.

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Being Kept
Poor and Humble

President Woodrow Wilson's
father was a Presbyterian
minister. One day a man
observed the shabbily dressed
preacher riding in a shiny new
buggy drawn by a well-
groomed horse. "Mr. Wilson,"
he remarked, "your horse looks
better cared for than you do!"
To which the Rev. Mr. Wilson
replied, "Yes, that's right, for
you see, I take care of my
horse, but my congregation
takes care of me."

An old adage about ministers
says that the Lord will keep
them humble and the church
will keep them poor. It is a well
known fact that people enter
the ministry for the love of God
and not for the love of money.

When it comes to paying a
preacher there are many com-
plicating factors. Foremost
among them is the parsonage.
Many people think furnishing a
house is like giving the pastor a
chateau in the Alps. "All that

salary and a free house too,"
they say. But a parsonage gives
a minister no choice about
where to live, and he builds up
no equity. Often he has a hassle
to get anything done in the way
of repairs or improvements.

Most ministers have few or
no fringe benefits. The govern-
ment also complicates matters
by classifying the minister as a
self-employed person which he
certainly is not because he has
a lot of people who try to tell
him what to do. His employer
can't pay his social security tax
which the government requires
of him like everybody else. In
addition, the government also
charges him social security tax
on the parsonage.

Many ministers have to pay
their own professional ex-
penses out of their compensa-
tion arrangement with the
church. These often include the
cost of a car needed for visiting,
books which are used to get up
sermons, and going to religious
meetings and conventions.

And then there is the myth of
ministerial discount. Not many
people give it any more, and it
is demeaning for a minister to
ask for it. One preacher said to
a merchant as he made a pur-
chase, "Just remember that
I'm a poor preacher." The mer-
chant replied, "Yes, I know. I
heard you last Sunday."

It is also a tradition that a
minister does not ask for a
raise. So his humility often
keeps him poor, lest people
think him to be "greedy of
filthy lucre." Paul indeed
warned ministers against that,
but Paul also said about
ministers that "The laborer is
worthy of his hire."

Churches and their ministers
need to openly discuss financial
arrangements. Instead of send-
ing the preacher out of the
room when these things are be-
ing set in the budget, why not
ask him about his needs and ex-
penses? Ask him what needs to
be done to the parsonage. Ask
him how fringe benefits and
other arrangements would
benefit him tax- wise. Ask him
how much his car, books, and
travel cost him.

Nobody can do his best work
if he has to put a lot of his
energy into worrying about how
to make ends meet. Some of our
ministers are well-paid, most
are not. See to it that your
minister is one of the fortunate.

It has been said that "when a
church seeks a pastor, it often
wants the strength of an eagle,
the grace of a swan, the
gentleness of a dove, the
friendliness of a sparrow, the
eyes of a hawk, the night hours
of an owl, and when it catches
that bird it expects him to live
on the food of a canary." Don't
let that be said of your church!

— Reprinted from The Biblical
Recorder, March 16, 1985; February
15, 1986; March 1, 1986.

April 1986

1

THE
MINISTER . . .
WORTHY OF
HIS HIRE

by Roy J. Smith

Salary and Housing

The member of a pastor
search committee said, "I
think we take rather good care
of our pastor. We pay him
$20,000 salary, plus a free house
to live in, plus a car allowance
and fringe benefits."

We shall consider travel and
benefits during subsequent
discussions. For now let us look
at what comprises an adequate
salary and housing allowance.
Let us use the search commit-
tee members' figures as an il-
lustration. The compensation
includes an annual salary of
$20,000 and a parsonage valued
for social security purposes at
$4,000 per year. Out of the
$20,000 the average minister
can expect to pay the following:
Federal income tax of $1,413.70
(assuming a joint return, fami-
ly of 3, standard deductions);
State income tax ($802.00;
Social Security $2,952.00; Tithe
$2,400.00; Annuity $1,200.00
(assumes a 5 percent of gross
income).

This means that the minister
will have deducted $8,767.70
from his $20,000 pay check leav-
ing $11,232.30 in spendable in-
come. The $11,232.30 must
cover the cost of food and
clothing for a family of three,
medical and dental expenses;
savings for emergencies and
the children's education; pro-
fessional expenses ; nonreim-
bursed meetings in the associa-
tion and convention; personal
library; vacation; unreim-
bursed travel expenses; prop-
erty taxes; and other required
expenses. This assumes, of
course, that the minister's
family receives adequate life
and health insurance; travel
allowance ; convention and con-
ference expense and contribu-
tions to retirement; long term
disability and wage continua-
tion insurance.

It does not take a certified
public accountant to determine
what an impossible job this is.
There is small wonder that
most "full-time" ministers find

it necessary for the wife to seek
employment. The inflated
economy in which we find
ourselves makes it increasingly
difficult for ministers with
fixed expenses to provide ade-
quately for family needs.

As I see it, the first line of
mission responsibility is to
make adequate provisions for
the pastor and other ministers
a church calls to give spiritual
leadership.

Fringe Benefits

"Fringe Benefits" is a
misnomer if ever there was
one. In our society a minister's
family cannot risk being
without health insurance; life
insurance ; wage continuation
insurance; worker's compensa-
tion; and provisions for retire-
ment, which are the items
usually referred to as "fringe
benefits." These have
developed into "big ticket
items" and are in no wise
fringe considerations.

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

A sense of security, personal
worth, and dignity depend on a
minister's ability to provide for
the basic necessities for
himself and his family. Com-
petency in ministry is enhanced
by the adequate provision for
the basic needs of the minister
and his family.

It is tragic to see a minister
retire and find that he does not
have enough benefits to allow
him and his spouse to live in
simple dignity during these
sunset years of life. There are
altogether too many retired
ministers in North Carolina
who are receiving less than
basic subsistence provisions
during the time of their retire-
ment. One minister's wife
commented that she was not
complaining but that they had
been forced to learn to live on a
very limited budget and that
she and her husband had
agreed they would eat meat
once a week.

It is tragic to see a minister
become disabled without ade-
quate benefits to provide food,
shelter, clothing, and medical
expenses for him and his fami-
ly. Ministers contact this office
on a regular basis indicating
the struggle they are having to
provide for the basic
necessities of life. One minister
commented recently that he
and his wife had been unable to
pay their medical bills because
there simply was not enough
revenue from retirement
benefits and social security to
cover the cost of medicines and
doctors' bills. He stated that it
was impossible for him to pur-
chase anything on credit
because they had been unable
to pay past bills.

It is tragic to see a minister's
wife and children left destitute
following the unexpected death
of a minister.

It is tragic to see a member of
a minister's family become

April 1986

stricken with some dread
disease which requires long-
term hospitalization and treat-
ment without adequate health
insurance. It is not unusual for
intensive care to cost more
than $1,000 per day; a surgical
procedure to cost more than
$10,000; and an elongated bout
with cancer to cost in excess of
$100,000.

As I see it, churches, associa-
tions, and other religious
groups need to see to it that
these basic protections are pro-
vided for those who give
themselves in service and
ministry. We expect nothing
less than total dedication and
commitment to the work of the
Lord from those we select to
serve us. These ministers of the
gospel should be able to expect
us to provide the "fringe
benefits" which are not fringe
at all but so important in
today's world. In so doing we
honor those who serve us and
the Lord who has called them.

Travel Allowance and
Professional Expenses

One of the major items in the
budget of the minister's family
is car expense. An automobile
(often two) is a basic necessity
for the minister's family.
Visitation, counseling, sickness
and death, funerals, and family
needs for transportation re-
quire a reliable automobile.
Most churches provide some
compensation for travel ex-
penses. Here again inflation
has far outrun what most
ministers receive for travel
allowance.

The cost of automobiles has
increased approximately
threefold since the mid 70' s.
This means that an auto
allowance of $2,000 per year in
1975 would need to be $6,000 per
year today just to stay even in
buying power. Many ministers
must supplement out of their
earnings what it costs to own
and operate an automobile.
Churches should be realistic in
(Turn the Page)

providing an adequate travel
allowance and should never
consider such allowances as
salary.

Other professional expenses
include fees and dues paid to
professional organizations
(ministers' conferences,
religious education con-
ferences, music conferences,
etc.), personal library and/or
music materials, conventions
and conferences, continuing
education studies, entertain-
ment of guests invited by the
church and other expenses
which relate to the minister's
unique role of service to the
church and community.
Wherever possible the church
should provide for these ex-
penses. The benefits to the
church are quite obvious. Pro-
viding for the minister to attend
conventions and conferences
not only allows a minister to
learn and participate in the life
of the denomination, this also
allows the church to be a part of
the denominational process.

Continuing education oppor-
tunities are essential for every
minister who seeks to stay
mentally and spiritually alert
and, of course, the church
profits from such efforts by the
minister.

Expenses incurred by the
church such as inviting guests
who stay in the minister's home
should be borne by the church.

As I see it, providing spiritual
leadership for the people of God
is no casual matter. We believe
God leads the church and the
minister to sense a call and
commitment to each other.

This commitment should in-
clude the minister's uncondi-
tional gift of himself to God and
the people of God in ministry
and service. The commitment
should include the church's
determination to provide for
the financial, as well as the
spiritual and emotional needs
of the minister.

Such mutual care enhances
the ability of both minister and
church to fulfill the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.

"THE CENTER OF
GRAVITY" OF
CHRISTIANITY HAS
SHIFTED

"Ninety-five percent of the
people in the world have at
least some of the Bible
translated into their native
language," said Warren
Webster, general director of
the Conservative Baptist
Foreign Missions Society, to
those gathered at the National
Association of Evangelists
meeting in early March.

Although, according to
Webster, "more tools and
technology are available than

ever before," the task of world
evangelism is far from com-
plete.

"More than 300 million peo-
ple do not have as much as John
3:16 in their own language,"
said Webster, "and even if the
Bible was available, more than
1 billion non-literate adults
worldwide could not read it."

Webster detailed some of the
significant geographic, lin-
guistic and culturasl progress
that Christianity has made in
the last 200 years, especially in
non- Western countries.

"Less than 1 percent of
evangelical Christians were
found outside of Europe and
North America 200 years ago,"
Webster noted. "Today that
figure is more than 50 percent.
Clearly the 'center of gravity'
of Christianity has shifted.

"We must press on to com-
plete the task of world
evangelism, using the transla-
tion and media tools God has
given us," Webster urged.

Completing Webster's
challenge, Randall Pope,
pastor of the Perimeter
Presbyterian Church, Nor-
cross, Georgia, rhetorically
asked representatives, "How
can the task be completed?

"We need both a God-given
vision and a faith-oriented
plan," Pope said, answering his
own question.

He emphasized that
evangelical leaders must claim
God's promises and acknowl-
edge His presence in order to
cling to a God-given vision.
Then the faith-oriented plan
lays out procedures which may
be different than man's, which
are designed to give God the
glory.

— Reprinted from The Biblical
Recorder, February 15, March 1,
March 8, 1986.

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

"60 . . .
LIBERATE! "

by Stephen Brown

THE quest for freedom is common to all
people; everyone yearns to be free.
Enslavements are both personal and corporate.
Despite technological and scientific develop-
ment, people are frustrated by a lack of personal

satisfaction, by economic insecurity, and by
competing values in a pluralistic society. Racial
tension, international terrorism and political op-
pression also limit freedom. Bondage to alcohol
and drug abuse, the disintegration of families,
and hedonistic lifestyles point significantly to the
need for liberation. Social, economic and
political conditions contribute to the enslave-
ment of people. Some live where, because of
governmental structure and economic order,
they are deprived of basic human rights.

But the primary enslavement is per-
sonal—rooted in rebellion against God. Jesus
said, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a
slave to sin" (John 8:34, New International Ver-
sion). Men and women are deprived of freedom
when they place their faith in temporal
substitutes for God — ancestry , national
privilege, tradition, religious rites, slavish
adherence to law or love of themselves.

Spiritual freedom begins with the recogni-
tion that humanity has no power to liberate
itself. Liberation must come from outside. Our
Liberator is Jesus Christ, the eternal Son who
lives forever. The divine Liberator speaks the
true Word of God. That authoritative and suffi-
cient Word of God, the truth revealed in the Bi-
ble, leads out of bondage to the freedom that God
intends for His creatures. "You will know the
truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32,
New International Version).

Faith in the Liberator provides redemption
and freedom from sin's dominion, guilt and judg-
ment, restoring us to the condition God intended
(Turn the Page)

April 1986

11

from the beginning. Liberation, accordingly,
means freedom for love and righteousness. This
is the essential meaning of Paul's declaration,
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free"
(Galatians 5:1, New International Version).
Freedom is not self-indulgence ; it is freedom to
"serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13,
New International Version).

The message of salvation also includes the
announcement of God's Kingdom. God's saving
intent cannot be detached from His lordship over
creation and history. The ultimate opponents of
God's purpose are the principalities and powers
under Satan, the prince of darkness. Salvation
includes vindication of God's justice. Though
liberation is fundamentally spiritual and per-
sonal, it is also cultural. God's righteousness will
be vindicated in the final coming of His
Kingdom.

In the meantime, God's rule is not in
abeyance. He curbs rebellion by partial judg-
ment. Above all, He calls upon His church to
speak out against slavery— spiritual, social,
economic— whether that slavery is due to per-
sonal sins, the sins of others, or materialistic
social structures. Our proclamation of the gospel
though primarily personal and spiritual is also
the proclamation of the rights of God in the
social, political and cultural systems of our day.
Liberation must never be cut off from its specific
and proper roots in the Gospel of the Kingdom of
God. It must never be merely politicized nor
simply spiritualized.

Our duty until the Lord comes again is clear.
By the grace of God and for the glory of His
Kingdom, we must GO . . . LIBERATE;

. . . Calling on all Christians to proclaim faithfully the
powerful message of personal salvation to those
who are enslaved by the shackles of sin. With
renewed determination, evangelicals must evange-
lize those who are liable to the judgment of God.

. . . Calling on all who proclaim this prophetic
message to minister to the suffering, the op-
pressed, the poor and the hungry. The message of
repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is not to be
isolated from the cup of cold water given in Jesus'
name.

. . . Calling upon all governments guilty of religious,
racial and economic oppression to turn from such
evils and to reestablish civil freedom for all their
citizens. We call upon our own government to press
vigorously for human rights, particularly for reli-
gious liberty in all nations.

. . . Calling on all Christians to manifest a special con-
cern for brothers and sisters in Christ living where
freedom to evangelize and educate is prohibited
and to pray faithfully for them.
To this end we dedicate ourselves in humble
gratitude for our freedom in Jesus Christ.

40,000 DIE OF HUNGER EVERY DAY

David M. Howard, general director of the
World Evangelical Fellowship, grabbed the
hearts of those attending a World Relief lun-
cheon held in March by opening his speech with
15 seconds of "absolute silence."

"During the last 15 seconds," said Howard,
"seven people died of hunger. Before I can finish
my next sentence, 28 people will have died from
hunger. Within the next hour, 1,680 people will
have died from hunger. And, by this time tomor-
row, 40,320 people will die from hunger."

Howard told of a visit to a refugee camp on
the border of Kampuchea (Cambodia) and
Thailand where two banners were stretched over
the camp— one asking, "Isn't seven years of suf-
fering enough?" and one pleading, "Someone,
somewhere, please help."

"I began to realize the hopelessness today's
Christians feel confronting hunger and poverty
must be like the complete and overwhelming
hopelessness felt by the disciples when they
needed to feed the 5,000.

If Christians are moved by the kind of com-
passion Jesus showed to that huge crowd, they
will provide spiritual and physical healing to
"their throng."

"It would be so much easier to forget . . . but
it doesn't stop the suffering. The only hope is to
accept the facts. People are dying. Now, what
are we going to do?" pressed Howard.

In conclusion, Howard pointed out that the
disciples acted in simple obedience in spite of the
overwhelming hopelessness. "May God grant
that we give what we have in straightforward
obedience."

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

PRIORITY FOR 1986

by Joseph R. Chambers

The foundation of a civil society must be
rebuilt for every generation or else it will cease
to be civil. The only place that can happen prop-
erly is in our homes and the only people who can
succeed, again properly, are parents.

If the parents are remiss, then society will
offer a substitute. What society offers will be in-
ferior at its best and a total disaster at its worst.
Our society has many examples of both.

Caleb, one of my grandsons, spent a portion
of Christmas Eve with His grandmother and me.
He was the joy of all as we went about our tasks
of shopping, visiting, and preparing for our day
of celebrating Christ's birth. We don't have
favorites but he is an absolute delight.

As he pranced around, rode piggyback,
entertained, and did mischievous things, family
responsibilities came to me like a storm. Of all of
the priorities for 1986, as I see it, the family
structure is without question, number one.
America must rebuild and protect the institution
of the family.

Listen to these quotes that identify some of
our worst enemies. They mean business.
Evidence of their damage is everywhere.

. . . education and schools, as they exist today will
change drastically during the 1970s and will be modified
almost beyond recognition by the end of the century . . .
the basic role of the teacher will change noticeably . . .
ten years hence it should be more accurate to term him a
'learning clinician' . . . intended to convey the idea that
schools are becoming clinics ... to provide individual-
ized psychosocial treatment for the student, thus in-
creasing his value both to himself and society (Harold
G. and June Grant Shane; "Forecast for the 70s—
Today's Education," N.E.A. Journal, Vol. 58, Jan. 1969, p.
30).

Every child in America who enters school at the age of
five is mentally ill, because he comes to school with
allegiance toward our elected officials, toward our
founding fathers, toward our institutions, toward the
preservation of this form of government we have . . .
patriotism, nationalism, sovereignty ... All of that
proves the children are sick because the truly well in-
dividual is one who has rejected all of those things and
is what I would call the true international child of the
future " (Dr. Pierce of Harvard University, addressing
2,000 teachers in Denver, Colorado, 1973, cited in Educa-
tion to Remold the Child, Parent and Child Advocate, Rt.
No. 4, Watertown, Wisconsin 53094, U.S.A., p. 30.)

Couple this kind of garbage with the
rebellion taught by the radical rock groups, the
worst of the valueless education curriculum, and
T.V. programming that disregards morality and
decency, and it spells trouble for our homes.

At the same time we have no right to com-
plain unless we are providing the proper alter-
natives. Are we willing to invest the energy and
dedication necessary to accomplish this all-
important task? I hope so.

Let's identify some things that need to hap-
pen in both the liberal and conservative com-
munities.

We must stop segregating the responsibility of the fami-
ly and the society in which the family exists. You can't
separate what happens in society at large from the home
atmosphere. To suggest that all the censoring and pro-
tecting of children is up to parents is foolish and totally
unrealistic. A civil society must always support the fami-
ly and share the protection of its valuable resources.

We must quit pampering our children. Soft, effeminate
homes produce soft, effeminate adults. One eleven-year-
old child said, as reported by psychologist H. Stephen
Glenn, "You only need tc know three things about kids:
Don't hit them too much, don't yell at them too much,
and don't do too much for them." A Harvard study of 456
teen-age boys from inner-city Boston, many from im-
poverished or broken homes, gave this report: "When
they were compared at middle age, one fact stood out:
regardless of intelligence, family income, ethnic
background, or amount of education, those who had
worked as boys, even at simple, household chores, en-
joyed happier and more productive lives than those who
had not" (Reader's Digest, January, 1986). Quit treating
your children as if you are their servants.

Don't be hypocritical parents. You teach by example not
by a lot of rhetoric. Kids hate lecturing. They will endure,
unharmed, all of your failures and weaknesses if they
perceive you as absolutely genuine and sincere. In fact,
they learn from your humanity the reality of human im-
perfections.

Self-esteem is seldom learned after adolescence. The
home is the world's best possibility-teaching institu-
tion. Don't ever make cutting, derogatory remarks about
or to your children. That's stupid, at best. Guard their
feelings and treat them as you would treat adults. That's
how they learn to be adults. Introduce them to your
friends with pride. Correct their weaknesses or lapses of
obedience firmly and authoritatively but with respect
and forgiveness.

I offer these few suggestions only to stir your
effort at self -discovery. Parenting is such a
fragile science that to truly learn its depths is to
be too old to need it. Yet its greatest strength is in
simplicity. Too many high-sounding ideas have
blinded our vision.

It doesn't take a computer to dig a founda-
tion. A lot of common sense, the ability to listen
to experience, a sensitivity to each individual
family member and a heart beaming with love
and you are on your way.

Let us dedicate ourselves to priority number
one the rest of this year. The foundation of our
society is our homes.

April 1986

13

1BOOK NEWS!

pit if >f

New pocket-sized gift books

YOU ARE SPECIAL
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
YOU CAN BE FULL OF JOY
YOU ARE LOVED

Four very special gift books,
only 5V2" long and 4 1/8" wide,
that can be carried in a pocket
or purse or mailed in their own
envelopes, are available from
Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Each book can be read on its
own or as part of the set and
they are especially useful as
gifts in time of joy, sadness,
loneliness, or grief. They con-
tain passages from the Revised
Authorized Version of the Bi-
ble, as well as selected writings
of well-known Christian
authors, like Dwight L. Moody,
Martin Luther, St. Patrick,
John Newton, and Charles
Wesley.

You Are Special underscores
each person's desire to be
special to someone and af-
firms—with prayers and Bible
readings — that every in-
dividual is special to God.

You Are Not Alone shows that
it is never necessary to feel
alone, that God can be with you
every step of your life.

You Can Be Full of Joy
describes why joy need not be
intangible, but rather definite
and real— like the joy that
Jesus promised His followers.

Finally, You Are Loved pro-
vides wonderful evidence from
God's Word and the words of
famous writers that God does
indeed love everyone in the
world. Each special gift book is
hardcover.

14

A fresh, intelligent challenge
to a national nightmare

DRUGS AND DRINKING,
REVISED

Using his own invaluable ex-
perience as a drug user and
now as a counselor who travels
around the country speaking to
kids on the subject of drugs and
alcohol, Jay Strack has written
a powerful book warning
children and their parents
about the dangers of drinking
and drugs.

In Drugs and Drinking,
Revised, Strack describes
practical, easy-to-understand
guidelines for concerned
parents and teenagers. He
strips away the myths sur-
rounding drug abuse among the
young and presents a hope-
filled message to help any car-
ing person develop an effective
way to relate to young people
and their problems.

In addition to a detailed
glossary of drug terms, readers
of Drugs and Drinking, Revised
will learn to recognize drug
abuse symptoms and know
what to do; identify the drugs
which are readily available and
how each one affects the mind
and body; and discover a solu-
tion to the destructive effects of
drug and alcohol on America's
youth.

Strack's message is aimed at
anyone who cares about a per-
son involved with alcohol and
drugs. "Millions are starving,"
he says, "starving for hap-
piness and a life that isn't ar-
tificial or fake; for a life
without drunkeness, pill-

popping, shooting up, or pot
smoking. This book is for those
who desire to understand, to
help, and to rescue." — (Trade
Paperback, $5.95.)

The Preacher is back for an encore !

JUST A SIMPLE
COUNTRY PREACHER

"Brothers and sisters, last night I
had the strangest dream ... a vi-
sion if you will, in which a number
of famous spiritual leaders, both
past and present, appeared to me
. . . Moses, Joan of Arc, Dale
Evans, and Dr. Norman Vincent
Peale . . . and they all tried to per-
suade me to become the sixth
player on their inter-faith co-ed
volleyball team

Welcome back to Bypass,
North Carolina, for more saint-
ly words of wisdom from that
incomparable spiritual leader,
the Rev. Will B. Dunn. Follow-
ing on the popular heels of his
first collection of cartoons,
Preacher: The Wit and Wisdom
of Reverend Will B. Dunn,
Doug Marlette has perpetrated
another equally funny and
outrageous book featuring the
Rev.: Just a Simple Country
Preacher.

According to his creator,
Doug Marlette, the Rev. Dunn
is a "poet, prophet, hell-fire-
and-brimstone jester and resi-
dent guru ... as well as a self-
appointed expert on human
relations."

"Kudzu," the comic strip
which spawned the Rev. Will B.
Dunn, appears in more than
one hundred newspapers, in-
cluding the Washington Post,
the New York Daily News, and
the Chicago Tribune. — (Trade
Paperback, $4.95.)

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOMESi

A

Springtime, a time to shed our coats, play outdoors and
enjoy nature. As we enter the spring season with all the warm
weather, we look back at another "springtime" day in the mid-
dle of cold winter days — January 22. This was one of those
days when keeping children inside would have been next to im-
possible— especially when they came home from school two
hours early.

What do we do with seven children ages six to twelve on
such a beautiful day? A game of kickball always helps use up
their abundant energy. They really were into the game. Free
play is a must. A chance to be themselves and do their own
thing whether it is riding their bicycles, swinging on the swings
or climbing on the barbeque pit.

Our warm sunny afternoon in January was relatively short.
To use an old cliche, "Time flies when you're having fun." The
children enjoyed the day and were ready for their evening meal.
Then came bath time, a busy time with seven children.

DAY

One more hour till bedtime and the children are still keyed
up from their busy afternoon. This is the time when we come
together as a "family group" for our daily devotions; it is a
special time of sharing their thoughts and feelings and sharing
God's Word with each other. We read Bible stories, have
discussions, sing and pray.

Snack time is fun as you can see. The children like to
make this time last as long as possible. They know what comes
next and what child likes to go to bed?

Bedtime is special too; a few short minutes with each
child by their bed for prayers and those precious hugs and
kisses. This makes the whole day worth all the effort.

Just as God sent us a spring day in the middle of winter,
He puts sunshine in our lives just when we need it most.
(Children's Home Information
Continued on Page 18 )

April 1986

15

CHOOSING GOOD CHILD CARE

Good child care is defined as programs that
offer healthy social and educational experience
under trained caregivers in safe and stimulating
surroundings. Quality child care promotes in-
dividuality and self-respect, encourages respon-
sibility and getting along with others. It lays the
foundation for learning and strengthens parents
and families. Finding good child care takes time
and effort and can cost parents money in missed
work. When parents locate a program which
they feel comfortable using and their child en-
joys, it will be time, effort and money well spent.
Parents should explore child-care options by
visiting several centers and homes with their
child. Each child and each family is different. A
good child-care choice for one child and one
family may not be the best choice for another. By
answering the following questions, parents
should be able to make a more informed decision
about child care. The care a child receives will
only be as good as the caregiver, who should be
an acceptable model of a responsible parent.

What training or experience does the staff have in child
care and development, first-aid and nutrition?

Are there enough adult caregivers so that the individual
needs of a child will be met?

Do the caregivers seem happy and enthusiastic?

Do the caregivers work well together?

How do the caregivers talk to and interact with the
children?

How are the children encouraged to participate in

various activities?
What specific forms of discipline do they use?
Does each child have a crib, cot or mat, spaced

for ventilation?
Are linens kept clean for each child?
Is the building clean, especially the bathrooms and food

preparation areas?

Is there good ventilation, lighting and heating?
Is there a written plan for handling emergency situa-
tions? Is each staff member familiar with the plan?
Is a first-aid kit available?

Are meals and snacks served with milk or 100% fruit
juice?

Do meals and snacks provide age-appropriate daily

nutritional needs?
Is food appetizing and appealing to young children?
Are menus posted for breakfast, morning snack, lunch,

and afternoon snacks?

It is very important for parents to have all
the questions answered by the child center they
choose to care for their child.

WARNING SIGNALS

A parent should be concerned if he/she sees
any of the following things take place at a child-
care center.

The caregiver does not want a parent to visit the program
or ask specific questions about what his child will
do while in care.

The children move about without any guidance from the
caregiver for 10 minutes or more; caregivers have
no apparent involvement with anything or anyone.

The caregiver does not respond to children needing
attention, but looks past them when talking to them
and gives the general impression of not caring
about or responding to the children's presence.

The caregiver's voice sounds angry or cross.

The caregiver seems overwhelmed with the work and
responsibility of caring for children.

The caregiver is physically rough and verbally abuses
the children.

The building is dirty and/or unsafe.

A child in care appears unhappy and suddenly doesn't
seem to be eating or sleeping well and doesn't have
much enthusiasm for play.

Does the center depend on a TV to entertain the
children?

18

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

THE SMITHA BASIL DRIVER ENDOWMENT TRUST FUND

Mr. Smitha Basil Driver was
a native of Nash County. He
served and retired from the
Navy after 30 years. After Mr.
Driver's retirement, he moved
to the Naval retirement home
in Gulfport, Mississippi, where
he lived until his death in
March, 1985. He bequested his
estate in trust to the Peoples
Bank and Trust Co. for the
Children's Home. This endow-
ment will help to broaden our
financial foundation and enable
us to continue to care for
children far into the future.

Shown above is Mr. Arnold
Brown of Peoples Bank and
Trust Co., Middlesex, NC,
presenting the Endowment
Trust Fund information from
the estate of Mr. Driver to Mr.
Bobby R. Taylor, executive
director of the Free Will Bap-
tist Children's Home.

WHY I CHOSE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE FRIENDS
OF CHILDREN PROGRAM

by Sylvia Rose

After learning about the
Friends of Children program, I
decided that participating in
this program could be a small
way I could help children who
are in need of love, guidance
and a home. I thought about all
the ways God has blessed me

and I wanted to share this with
others. Children have always
been very special to me; and as
I thought about all of the
beautiful things in this world, to
me there is nothing more
beautiful than the smile of a lit-
tle child.

All the accomplishments that
the Children's Home has made
to provide "a Christian Home
for Boys and Girls" through the
generosity of money and in-
terest of the Friends of
Children members, makes the
word love not only an expres-
sion of intense affectionate con-
cern for children, but in reality
a way of life. Children have ex-
perienced the love of Free Will
Baptists during their years at
the Children's Home, where
their every need is tenderly
cared for. The Free Will Bap-
tist Children's Home provides
the finest in concerned care
through loving houseparents,
vocational instructors,
spiritual training and teaching,
while living in the finest
residential and campus sur-
roundings.

Each child is the recipient of
love provided by each member
in the Friends of Children pro-
gram; and I am very proud to
be able to participate in this
worthwhile program.

PSYCHIATRIST CALLS FOR
RETURN TO TRADITIONAL
FAMILY/VALUES

"More and more people are
demanding a return to tradi-
tional basic values, to a re-
establishment of meaningful
norms, to a rediscovery of
faith," said Donald B. Rinsley,
clinical professor of psychiatry
at the University of Kansas
School of Medicine.

Rinsley said there is a trend
away from the anti-
establishment attitudes so
prevalent during the 60s and in-
to the 70s.

"The family remains the
nuclear socializing factor for
the oncoming generation," he
added, outlining a number of
characteristics that he con-
sidered necessary if young peo-
ple are to ultimately assume
the responsibilities of mature
adulthood.

He contends that the family
that produces healthy children
cannot serve as an arena for
those who "suffer from major
disturbance of gender
identity," such as homosex-
uals. He also emphasized the
need for proper discipline of
children for mature develop-
ment.

April 1986

19

FOREIGN MISSIONS

THE CALL TO SERVE

by Paul Grubbs

GOD called me into His
ministry in July, 1971,
while I was working at Crag-
mont Assembly. I attended
some of the nightly services of
the youth camp weeks. During
one particular invitational
hymn, I heard a voice call my
name. He said, "Paul! Paul!" I
glanced over my left shoulder
and then my right to see who
was speaking to me, but
everyone was singing. As I
began to sing again I heard,
"Paul, Paul!" Within myself I
said, "Yes, what do you want?"

"I want you to go to the altar;
I need to talk with you," He
answered.

I went to the altar and knelt
there before God. As I prayed I
heard the voice of His
messenger again, "I want you
to preach the Word, to be one of
my ministers. I will be with
you."

"Lord, I'm not sure I can do
that. You know that I'm a sinful
person. Matter-of-fact, I am
selfish. I care more about
myself than I care about
anyone else," I gave my ex-
cuse.

He responded, "I have paid
for your sins. I paid the debt of
your sins when I died on the
Cross in the person of Jesus
Christ. You are forgiven. You
are mine. Preach the Word! I
will always be with you."

"If that is really what you
want, tell me what to say and
show me the way," I answered.

After the worship service, I
went back to the main building
at Cragmont, found my mother
and told her about God calling
me into the ministry. A few
days later, my father arrived at
Cragmont and I told him of my
experience. Since he was also
my pastor, I expected him to
announce it to my church, Tee's
Chapel, or tell me what to do, or
to do something; but he was
quiet and did nothing. He
wanted to make sure that I was
not just reacting to the emo-
tional atmosphere of Crag-
mont.

In September or early Oc-
tober of 1971, my father and I
went to a missions rally. That
night God called me to the altar
again, where He confirmed my
calling into the ministry by say-
ing, "I want you to be a mis-
sionary, to preach the Word in
another country."

I responded, "I'll preach the
gospel where you want me to
preach. ' ' But in my mind, I was
thinking of the pastoral
ministry. I pushed the idea of
going to a foreign country to the
back of my mind. I only shared
with my father that God was
calling me into the ministry.

Although I had pushed the
foreign missions idea to the
back of my mind, I was never
able to forget it. A few years
later, while Teresa and I were
still dating, I mentioned to her
the possibility of me going to
the foreign mission field.

When I was first called into
the ministry, I was not ready to
go. I was only sixteen years old.
To prepare me, God sent me to
Mount Olive College and to
Northeast Church, in Mount
Olive, as a student minister,
and to Kinston Church, also as
a student minister. After that
He sent me to Atlantic Chris-

tian College and Trinity
Church, at Pantego, as pastor.
Later, He led me to South-
eastern Baptist Theological
Seminary and to pastor Friend-
ship Church, at Emit.

God began to lay on my heart
the burden for the "lost." I
preached on the Great Commis-
sion and pointed out that being
a witness for Jesus was every
Christian's privilege. This
made me feel guilty because
outside of the pulpit I was not
telling anyone about Jesus
Christ. I did not know how to
share the gospel with another
individual. Thus, I invited the
Rev. Harold Jones to come over
and teach a course at Friend-
ship Church on evangelism. I
believed this would fulfill God's
"calling on me." But just
classroom lectures and discus-
sions don't work. Therefore, I
asked Harold to take me out
and show me how to share the
gospel in homes. He did and we
saw people make professions of
faith; however, I still did not
feel as if I could do it.

He told me about Evangelism
Explosion III International. I
attended one of EE Ill's
Teacher/Trainer Clinics in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in
November, 1984, where I
shared my faith with an in-
dividual who made a profession
of faith. I came back home on
"fire."

I shared my faith and began
teaching the members of
Friendship Church how to
share their faith. I thought this
would fulfill God's calling on
me. To this, God said, "That's
not good enough. I want you to
go ; be a missionary in a foreign
country. I will be with you."

In July, 1985, in the privacy of
my own home, I said, "Yes,
Lord, show me where you want
me to go." It is significant that
God has led me to a place called

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS!

Emit because emit means "to
send out" or "to give off as
light." We Christians are called
by God to carry the Light,
Jesus Christ, to the world.

God has revealed through the
Foreign Missions Board that
He wants us to go to the Philip-
pines. We (Teresa, Nathaniel,
Matthew and I) are scheduled
to leave North Carolina for the
Philippines in late September
or early October, 1986.

PRAYER
PRODUCES MIRACLES

by Fred P. Baker

Dr. John C. Wengatz tells in
his book, Miracles in Black, of
an African convert who was left
at a new mission station to
carry on the Lord's work with a
cannibal tribe. The African
convert, Joao Mbaxi, started
his ministry during dry season.
Next came rainy season, but
month after month went by
with no rain. Then came the
normal dry season again, but
still no rain. There had been no
harvest. Many faced starva-
tion. In all the years they had
worshiped their pagan gods,
the rains had not failed to
come. The chief told Joao,
"You must leave the country
and take the white man's God
with you." The young Christian
refused to go. The angry chief
gave this warning, "If your God
is as good as you say and so
powerful that He rules the sky,
why doesn't He send us the
needed showers? If it doesn't
rain by sunrise tomorrow, we
will drink your blood and eat
your flesh! Joao remembering
the Prophet Elijah went to his
hut to pray for divine help. As
he prayed, the tribe prepared
for their horrible feast at
sunrise. Just before dawn,
thunder was heard in the
distance, lightning flashed
across the sky, and God sent an
abundant rain on the entire

region. As a result, Joao was
able to stay and continue his
ministry.

Elijah and Joao's God still
lives today; therefore, we face
the task of world evangelization
with faith and not fear. Mrs.
M. E. Thorkildson, using
2 Chronicles 7:14 and Acts 4:4,
13, made the following com-
ment, "When Christians pray,
as they prayed of yore, God will
save sinners as He has before."
Elijah and Joao were men of
like passions as we are, but are
we men of like prayer as they
were?

RELIEF FUNDS: A
GIVE-AWAY PROGRAM?

by Willem van der Plas

The extension efforts of last
July, and we hope the ones in
November, make it necessary
to review our relief activities.
Most of our mission relief in-
come was spent in medical aid,
contributions to funerals and
loans to people who want to im-
prove their livelihood.

In the pastors' meeting last
month, all the pastors approved
the proposal to divide the funds
equally among the churches,
missions and outreaches, which
is a generous decision, because
some of them could claim more
because of the number of their
church members.

Relief funds are not only used
for the members of our own
churches, these funds are used
for people who need them. The
highest priority for relief work
is life-saving aid.

The Revs. Pio dela Rosa, An-
tonio J. Samones, Jaapal On-
tong and I form a committee to
study the present needs and the
possible answers of those
needs. During our meetings we
have accepted the "3-R's":
First, rebirth by preaching,
witnessing, and the Spirit of
God. After rebirth, follows
rehabilitation, which shows the
born-again person that he/she
is fully accepted and worthy to
receive personal duties,
(Turn the Page)

Willem doctoring a student who was bitten by a dog.

April 1986

21

FOREIGN MISSIONS

responsibilities and ministry.
Finally, we consider relief as
an action of love woven into
rebirth and rehabilitation.

Jesus showed compassion to
all men— He healed to glorify
God; He felt the pain of those
who suffered; He made com-
passion a commandment . . .
and a measurement, as Mat-
thew teaches us in his writings
(25:31-46).

The life-saving opinion will
not change. Instead of only
helping to meet direct needs,
we try to make a plan in which
prevention will be at least as
important as cure. I hope to be
able to show you more in the
near future. Relief is for the
people who are mentioned by
our Relief Director, Jesus
Christ. Many people do live
without expectation; many live
under the pressure of spiritual
and physical poverty, they need
rebirth, rehabilitation, and
relief.

We ask you kindly to use your
time in prayer for the commit-
tee, so that we might receive
the right insight and wisdom
from the Holy Spirit in our plan-
ning for the relief work.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

by Fred P. Baker

Palawan Bible College
observed its Sixth Annual
Foundation Day rites on Oc-
tober 1-2. Students, faculty,
staff, and friends gathered at
the PBC campus for two action-
packed days. Competition
ranged from basketball,
volleyball, singing, spelling, to
a Bible Bowl Quiz. Speakers for
the occasion were the Rev. Pio
dela Rosa, president of the
Free Will Baptist Church
Philippines; Brother Jimmy
Basarte, president of the
Lighthouse Fishing Corpora-
tion; and Fred Baker, mis-
sionary. Prizes were awarded

in every division of competition.

October 18 was the official ending of the first semester of the
1985-1986 academic school year. The following week was semester
break.

October 28 was registration for second semester. A total of 58
students began classes on October 30. Twenty-six different courses
are offered during this second semester.

Fred and Linda observing activities on Foundation Day.

EMMANUAL THE SAVIOUR FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

Piedras Negras Coahuila, Mexico

by the Rev. Antonio Escobar
Mexican Field Director

I praise the Lord for the work
this church has realized this
past year. I praise the Lord for
having blessed the ministry of
this place during the year 1985.

The church had a ministry of
prayer, visitation, and dedica-
tion to the work of the Lord. The
Lord gave us thirteen souls,
which were baptized and
brought into the church. We are
very happy in that which God
has done for us during the last
year. We believe that in 1986 the
Lord will do even more as we
work in faith and love for lost
souls. We can see that God is
going to do greater things for

us. As Paul the apostle has
said: "Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye stedfast, un-
moveable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the
Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

And so it is that this year, not
just this church, but all the
churches look forward to a
greater advancement of the
work of God.

I praise the Lord for this
harvest of souls this past year. I
ask that you continue to pray
for us and for the work of God in
our country, Mexico.

sm. . , t - $

Baptismal
Service
in Mexico

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

ENDOWMENT
APPRECIATION DAY AT
MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

by Dr. Charles Phillips
Professor of English

Outside it was a cool and
cloudy Saturday, February 22,
as friends and supporters of
Mount Olive College gathered
from around the state to take
part in Endowment Apprecia-
tion Day. When they arrived,
College Hall was warm,
lighted, and ready to receive
them. Inside, the aroma of good
food from a buffet luncheon
greeted the guests who were
joined by College faculty, staff,
and other visitors. Soon a pleas-
ant murmur of conversation
and exchanged greetings arose
from around the dining tables
decorated with greenery and
lighted candles.

The program began with an
invocation by the Rev. N. Bruce
Barrow. Then, Mr. James B.
Hunt, chairman of the Board of
Trustees, welcomed the large
gathering and thanked those
who had established en-
dowments. He said support of
the College is important
because "Mount Olive is a
place where young people not
only study to earn a living but
also learn to live a Christian
life." Following Mr. Hunt's
welcome, the guests were
entertained by the Mount Olive
College Singers who performed
patriotic selections.

Endowment Announcements

Dr. Burkette Raper, presi-
dent of Mount Olive College,
gave the main address. He an-
nounced that the College had
reached the goal of $500,000
needed to obtain an endowment
matching grant from the U.S.
Office of Education. In a sur-
prise announcement he said
that an anonymous donor had

made an additional $100,000 en-
dowment gift on the condition
that it also be matched by July
15, 1986.

In proclaiming these suc-
cesses, Dr. Raper said that the
total endowment of Mount
Olive College has grown more
over the past two years than it
has in the previous thirty-year
history of the College. Quoting
from Psalm 126, he said, "The
LORD hath done great things
for us whereof we are glad."
But, he added, "While we can
rejoice at this great achieve-
ment, the College still has
many goals to meet."

Other Goals

The first of these goals is to
receive accreditation from the
Southern Association of Schools
and Colleges as a four-year in-

stitution. Although the College
has until 1989 to meet this goal,
Dr. Raper said that there is no
point in waiting until then. In-
deed, he challenged those pres-
ent to help the College reach
this goal in 1986. Other goals in-
clude the construction of a stu-
dent union and fine arts
buildings and the continued ac-
quisition of books for the
library.

There is no other private
four-year college between
Mount Olive and the coast;
therefore, Dr. Raper said, "Our
purpose is to become the apex
of Christian higher education in
eastern North Carolina." He
added, "The key to the future of
the College is people like you
who represent the root and
spirit of the College and who en-
sure its stability and quality in
times to come. You represent
our most intimate circle of
friends and are part of the Col-
lege family. You have kindled a
light that will burn after your
years on earth."

(Turn the Page)

Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Caroon, of Lowland, center, hold the certificate they re-
ceived during Endowment Appreciation Day at Mount Olive College. Pictured following
the February 22 luncheon are from left, Albert Campen, Mrs. Lottie Caroon's father;
James B. Hunt, chairman, College board of trustees; Mrs. Molly Campen, Mrs.
Caroon's mother; daughter Angel Caroon, with grandson Nathaniel Grubbs; the
Caroons; Mrs. Teresa Caroon Grubbs, with grandson Matthew; and Paul Grubbs. Four
of Mr. and Mrs. Caroon's children have attended Mount Olive College.

April 1986

23

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE!

Dr. Raper's address was
followed by the presentation of
certificates of appreciation to
the fifty-four donors who had
established endowments since
December 8, 1984. At the com-
pletion of the presentations, a
prayer of dedication and
benediction was offered by the
Rev. Clifton T. Rice of Kinston.
The recipients of the cer-
tificates were congratulated by
friends and relatives as they
left the warmth and spiritual
fellowship of College Hall.
Returning to their homes
across North Carolina, the
guests carried with them the
pride of being an important
part of the Mount Olive College
family.

NEW ENDOWMENTS

The following new en-
dowments were announced En-
dowment Appreciation Day,
February 22. These funds,
established since the December
8, 1984, Endowment Apprecia-
tion Day, bring the total to 258
endowments, which in-
dividuals, families, church
organizations and business
firms have established at
Mount Olive College.

The assets of these funds ex-
ceed $2.5 million and represent
a stable source of income for
the future of the College.

Mary Forrest Aldridge Scholarship
Endowment

Mary T. Atkinson Endowment

Elma Hines and John T. Beddard
Family Endowment

Mary C. and J. C. Boyd Scholar-
ship Endowment

Treat and Edith H. Brown Endow-
ment

Clarence S. and Zora W. Bunn
Library Endowment

Lottie C. and L. Reginald Caroon
Family Endowment

Robert Glenn Casey Sr., Scholar-
ship Endowment

Norma Mae L. and C. M. Coats
Endowment

Core Creek Free Will Baptist
Church Scholarship Endow-
ment

Cowan Endowment

Marvin S. and Zelma R. Cowan

Endowment
William L. and Alma S. Dale

Scholarship Endowment
Vivian H. and George Dimick

Endowment
L. Marvin and Berta Edwards

Endowment
Peggy W. and R. Clayton

Everett Family Endowment
Melvin K. and Lois H. Everington

Library Endowment
Daniel W. Fagg Endowment For

Academic Excellence
Julia S. Fillingame Scholarship

Endowment
Sue H. and Ben F. Gay Endow-
ment

Goldsboro News-Argus Endow-
ment

Florence M. and Rufus H. Harrell
Endowment

Richard D. and Ruby Foyles
Henderson Endowment

Thomas A. and Katie McRae
Henderson Scholarship Endow-
ment

Jane E. and J. Thomas Johnson
Endowment

John B. and Nina G. Kelly En-
dowment

Elizabeth A. Kemp Endowment

Rena West Kirk Endowment

Lucille F. and Joseph B. Lancaster
Endowment

Earl Lovette Family Endowment

Lillie Price and William Preston
Martin Endowment

Thelma Lee and William H. Mason
Endowment

Marilyn and Calvin Mercer En-
dowment

Mount Olive College General En-
dowment

Mount Olive Pickle Company En-
dowment

S. Woodrow and Edith H. McCoy
Family Endowment

W. E. and Pearl W. McDowell
Endowment

Charles Stephens Norwood En-
dowment

Chester H. and Mildred Watson
Pelt Endowment

Charles Phillips Endowment

Jean H. and L. M. (Mack) Pierce
Library Endowment

E. J. Pope and Son, Incorporated,
Endowment

Dorris L. and Clifton T. Rice
Family Scholarship Endowment

Gibson T. and Emma W. Riley
Endowment

The Rev. and Mrs. Fred A. Riven-
bark Ministerial Scholarship
Endowment

Hubert and Mozelle Scott Library
Endowment

Wilber and Margie Shirley Endow-
ment

Southern Bank and Trust Com-
pany Endowment
Thomas A. and Ruby D. Sutton

Endowment
Junnie G. and Ellen Vann Warren

Endowment
The Rev. M. A. and Vinnie Baggett

Warwick Endowment
Betty J. and Ernest W. Whitley

Family Endowment
M. Sherrill Williams Endowment
Dorothy J. Wirt Art Endowment
Olive B. and Earl V. Wood Family
Library Endowment

THIS YEAR'S
GRADUATION —
ANOTHER FIRST!

All friends of Mount Olive
College are cordially invited to
attend the event of the
year— graduation! The day-
Saturday, May 10; the place-
College Hall; the time— 10:30
a.m.

What a day it will be, as the
historic senior class receives
the first four-year degrees ever
awarded at Mount Olive Col-
lege. Fifty students have ap-
plied to receive baccalaureate
degrees. They are under-
standably proud of being first!

Along with the seniors, 76
students have applied for
associate degrees, for a total of
126 who have applied for
graduation.

Friends are also invited to
the Commencement Worship
Service which will be held on
Sunday, May 4, at 8 p.m., in
Rodgers Chapel.

The worship service and
graduation exercises promise
to be extra special this year— a
time for all of the Mount Olive
College "family" to gather and
give thanks.

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

TALENTED WOMAN WORKS FOR MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information

Tanya Newson, a busy full-
time student and part-time
employee, still finds the energy
to share her talents with Mount
Olive College. So far this year
the daughter of Willie and Mat-
tie Newson of Deep Run has
spent over 100 hours working
with Dr. Barbara Sessoms,
assistant vice president for
planning and academic affairs.
All this is on top of the 15-20
hours spent each week working
part-time in the College
development office.

"Tanya is disciplined, en-
thusiastic and willing to work,"
says Dr. Sessoms. "During the
summer she entered over 5,000
records into the College data
base. I have worked with Tanya
for the past two years as her
honors advisor. I am
thoroughly impressed with her
abilities."

Last fall, business leaders
from Wayne, Duplin, Lenoir
and Craven Counties received a
Business and Industry Survey
that Miss Newson helped pro-
duce and mail. The survey is
the project she chose to do for
the 1985-86 Honors Program.

"Right now we are in the pro-
cess of analyzing the responses
that were returned," she says.
"The information we received
from the survey is being sent to
the Career Planning and Place-
ment director, Mrs. Diane
Reichard. She will use the data
to help our students find jobs.
In the planning office, we will
use the information to help
implement new academic pro-
grams for the four-year pro-
gram."

Outstanding scholars like
Miss Newson are given the
opportunity to receive scholar-
ships and work in areas of in-
terest outside the classroom.
Thirty hours of participation is

all that is required, but as she
puts it, "I'm having such a good
time— I want to keep working! "

The 1984 South Lenior High
School salutatorian helped put
together the College's highly
successful Freshmen Orienta-
tion which was held prior to the
opening of the fall semester.

"I served as a student assis-
tant during Freshman Orienta-
tion," remembers Miss
Newson. "We greeted new
students, helped them move in-
to the dorms and planned the
activities. We- had a lot of
fun— fun with a purpose.

"For instance, one of the
skits we did out at Eagles Nest
introduced the new students to
the different clubs and
organizations at the College.
We all had a good time, and I
believe that the freshmen
learned a lot."

A member of the "Sonshine
Singers" at Piney Grove
Church in Duplin County, the
College sophomore almost
didn't enroll at M.O.C.

"I had already been accepted
at a nursing school. A friend in-
vited me to visit Mount Olive—
just to take a look," she ex-
plains. "I liked it here and
decided to enroll for two
years."

Miss Newson will receive her
associate in science degree in
May, but she is "hooked" on
M.O.C. and plans to stay four
years and earn a bachelor's
degree. She sees a master's
degree and a doctorate in ac-
counting or business as part of
her future. For right now she
happily invests her time and
talent in her favorite college.

"I feel good about doing
something for the College.
Someone has to do the 'busy
work,' as I call it. I'm glad that
someone is me!"

EVERETT BEGINS DUTIES

R. Clayton Everett began
duties on March 3 as vice presi-
dent for finance and treasurer
at Mount Olive College. He suc-
ceeds James A. Coats who is
now the full-time chairman of
the four-year program for the
business department.

Everett comes to Mount
Olive after retiring as ex-
ecutive vice president of First
Federal Savings and Loan of
Charlotte. Since joining First
Federal in 1972, Everett had
watched theofirm grow from 72
million to 330 million dollars.

He had also served in several
positions in each of First
Federal's three corpora-
tions—a mortgage banking
firm, an insurance company
and a land development firm.

A graduate of East Carolina
University where he received
his bachelor's degree, Everett
also attended the North
Carolina Savings and Loan
League Academy at Ap-
palachian State University. He
did further study at U.S.
League of Savings and Loans,
Financial Management, San
Diego, California; U.S. League
of Savings and Loans, Ex-
ecutive Department, Universi-
ty of Connecticut; and U.S.
League of Savings and Loans,
Graduate School, Indiana
University.

April 1986

25

m

Experience His Love

JESGS, I LOVE YOU is all about kids and teachers and fun and Bible
discovery and love. This all-new VBS series for 1986 will fill the minds of
students with gratitude and praise as they study examples from the Book of
John emphasizing Jesus' electrifying love. Indeed the invitation of JESGS, I
LOVE YOG is that of John himself: "We love him, because he first loved us"
(1 John 4:19).

JESGS, I LOVE YOG is a unique, fun-filled opportunity for VBS students
to experience Jesus' love . . . from the Gospel of love . . . and in their new-
found knowledge they will respond in faith, evangelism, kindness, praise,
loving service, total commitment. The student is convinced that Jesus' love
is just as real today as it was 2000 years ago. In joyous praise he responds,
"JESGS, I LOVE YOG!"

JESGS, I LOVE YOG has only one source of inspiration: God's Word.
Every lesson is deeply anchored in Scripture and offers a healthy balance of
Bible teaching and theme-related pupil activities.

JESGS, I LOVE YOG is all new. No VBS series from Standard is ever
repeated. Even though the Bible stories are familiar and much loved, each
one features an abundance of fresh, new learning activities to help the stu-
dent apply Biblical insights into his own life.

JESGS, I LOVE YOG provides more than 100 tools— from teacher texts
to crafts to publicity aids to awards — all to help you reach your vital teaching
goals of winning students to Christ and nurturing them in His love.

JESGS, 1 LOVE YOG is a flexible course of study. It may be used with
maximum teaching effectiveness in 10-Day and 5-Day schools; rural
or urban schools; day camps; weekly Bible clubs; and weekday
classes. It works well in formal classrooms and in backyard
Bible clubs. JESGS, I LOVE YOG shares your goals of win-
ning young people to Christ and nurturing them in their
Christian walk. Come along, if you want to grow!

Materials available from the
Free Will Baptist Press and
the branch stores located in
New Bern, Kinston and
Wilson.

m

■ ■
•::>.V ••. •

illii

. ■■■■ ■■■ ■:

SK:': ;■>: ^^^^^^^^^

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

STATE YOUTH
CONVENTION

MAY 16-18, 1986

OF THE
FAITH

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 16

5:00 P.M.

6:00 P.M.
5:00-6:30 P.M.

6:30 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

8:00 P.M.
9:30 P.M.

10:15—10:45 P.M.

Registration— College
Hall

Supper— New Campus

Registration of Arts
and Crafts— Col-
lege Hall,
Classroom B

Practice for Talent
Show -College Hall
(Auditorium Open
Only to Talent
Show Participants,
6:30-7:45 p.m.)

Choir Practice for
Youth Convention
Choir

Judging of Arts and
Crafts (Judges
Only)

Talent Competition

Vespers: YFA— Outside
Library; AFC—
Outside Chapel; Bi-
ble Bowl Con-
testants and
Coaches— College
Hall

Refreshment Break

SATURDAY, MAY 17

7:30 A.M.

8:00 A.M.

8:30 A.M.

9:00-10:00 A.M.

10

00

A.M.

10

30

A.M.

11

00

A.M.

— 1

00

P.M.

12

00

P.M.

1

00

P.M.

Breakfast— Downtown
Campus

Breakfast Meeting for
Bible Bowl
Judges— Place TBA

Breakfast Meeting
for Candidates—
Place TBA

Registration at College
Hall for Those Not
Yet Registered

Business Session for
Campaign
Speeches— College
Hall (Polls Open 10
A.M.-l P.M.)

Bible Bowl Competi-
tion*

Public Speaking*

Lesson Presentation

Cragmont Slides

Lunch

District First Place
Winner's Luncheon

Registration for Those
Not Yet
Registered-
College Hall

(Turn the Page)

April 1986

27

1

30 P

M.

3:00-3

30 P

M.

3

30 P

M.

1:30 P.M. Afternoon Business Ses-
sion— Installment
of Officers Im-
mediately Follow-
ing—College Hall
Adult Seminar— Chapel
Refreshment Break
Recreation Time (Soft-
ball, Kickball, Ten-
nis, Basketball Will
Be Available as
Well as Special Ac-
tivities for
Cherubs)
Choir Practice
Supper— New Campus
Awards Presenta-
tion—College Hall
Evening Program—
WRAL Radio Personality
Famous Bob Inskeep

4:45 P.M.
5:30 P.M.
7:00 P.M.

8:00 P.M.

BOB

,NSKEEP

WRAL-FM101

NorthCarcMs "ClaS^FAA

9:30 P.M.

10:15-10:45 P.M.
SUNDAY, MAY 18

8:00 A.M

Vespers: YFA— Outside

Library ;

AFC— Outside

Chapel
Refreshment Break

Breakfast— Downtown
Campus

10:00 A.M. Morning Worship—
Rodgers Chapel

General Information

Cost of meals provided by Mount Olive College
Cafeteria will be $2, breakfast; and $2.75,
lunch and supper.

Cost of lodging overnight will be $8 per person
per night.

The College will furnish linens, bath cloths,

towels, and soap.
Guests must bring their own pillows, blankets,

money for meals and snacks, Bible,

notebook and pencil, and casual clothes for

the weekend.
The Free Will Baptist Press and Mount Olive

College bookstores will be open on Saturday.
Rooms will be assigned in order as registration

forms are received (first received, first

served).

Money for lodging should be sent with a $20
registration fee (per church) by May 1, 1985.

Money for meals will be collected at the time of
the meal.

REGISTRATION FORM

Name of Church_
Address

Please give address and phone number of person we may
contact to answer questions about your group's registra-
tion:

Name

Address

Phone Number

Names of adults supervising young people staying overnight
at the Convention ( at least one adult male and one adult
female) :

Total number of youth and adults lodging overnight:

Friday

Males (12 and under)
Males (13 and up)
Females (12 and under).
Females (13 and up)

Saturday

Males (12 and under)
Males (13 and up)
Females (12 and under
Females (13 and up)

Total x $8 Total

Total x

Total

Registration fee (per church)
Total amount enclosed

$20.00

Total number of youth and adults eating meals pro-
vided by MOC cafeteria.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Breakfast

Lunch

Supper

•No meals served at this time

Registration forms, along with lodging money
and registration fee, should be sent to:

Joan Little
Route 2, Box 347-C
Farmville, NC 27828
Phone: (919) 753-3217

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS!

PLEASANT GROVE CHURCH, Route 2, Pikeville, ex-
perienced a momentous occasion on January 5. It was on that
day that the church parsonage was dedicated and a copy of the
mortgage burned.

The parsonage was built in 1977; the Rev. Luther Swinson
was the first pastor to reside therein.

Shown in the picture are the treasurer of the church, Mrs.
Marjorie Snipes; along with the present deacon board and
those who were serving in 1977. The Rev. Henry Armstrong,
pastor, is also shown.

The church members are happy to have the debt retired
and give the glory to God.

THE WESTERN DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
CONVENTION will meet at
Stoney Creek Church, near
Goldsboro, on Thursday,
April 2. The theme of the
Convention is "Keys to the
Kingdom." The scheduled
program is as follows:

9:15— Registration

9:45— Hymn, "He Keeps
Me Singing"

— Devotion, Host
Church

—Welcome, Lillie Mae
Sasser

— President's Re-
marks, Donna Hol-
land

10:15 — Hymn, " Love
Divine"

— Keys to the King-
dom Through Bene-
volence, Esther
Barnes

— Keys to the King-
dom Through Mis-
sions, Mattie Bras-
well

— Keys to the King-
dom Through Youth,
Nancy Boykin

11:00— Hymn, "Faith Is the
Victory"
—Offering and Prayer
—Special Music

— Convention Mes-
sage, Jean Ackiss

12:00— Lunch

1:00— Hymn, "Praise Him!
Praise Him!"

— Devotion and Me-
morial Service, Vir-
ginia Joyner

— Business Session

— Hymn, "Near the
Cross"

— Benediction

THE CAPE FEAR
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
CONVENTION will meet
with Palmer Memorial
Church, Garner, on April 9.
The theme for the Conven-
tion is "Showers of Bless-
ings" and Ephesians 1:3 is
the theme Scripture. The
scheduled program is as
follows:

9:30— Registration
10:00 — Opening Hymn,
"Showers of Bless-
ings"

— Devotions, Clau-
dette Lane

— Welcome, Host
Church

— Response, Luda Hin-
nant

— Greetings, Grace
Barbour

— Business Session

— Denominational En-
terprises:

Showers of Bless-
ings Through Mis-
sions

Showers of Bless-
ings Through the
Children's Home
Showers of Bless-
ings Through Retire-
ment Homes
Showers of Bless-
ings Through Mount
Olive College
Showers of Bless-
ings Through Crag-
mont

Showers of Bless-
ings Through Super-
annuation

Showers of Bless-
ings Through the
Free Will Baptist
Press

11:15— Morning Worship

— Hymn, "Count Your
Blessings"

— Offering

—Special Music, Betty
Strickland

— Convention Mes-
sage, Ruth Warrick

12:00— Lunch
1:00— Hymn, "Make Me a
Channel of Bless-
ing"

— Memorial Service,
Louise Crumpler

1:20— Miscellaneous Busi-
ness

— Hymn, "Blessed
Assurance"

2:00— Adjournment

THE ALBEMARLE
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
CONVENTION will be held
at Trinity Church, Pantego,
on Thursday, April 17.
"Stand Fast, Lest Ye Fall"
(1 Corinthians 10:12) will
serve as the Convention's
theme. The scheduled pro-
gram is as follows:
9:45— Registration
10:00— Hymn, "Standing on
the Promises"

— Devotions, Mrs. Vic-
toria Cooper

1 0: 1 5 — Welcome, Mrs.
Louise Stokesberry

— Response, Mrs.
Ercie Waters

— President's Greet-
ings, Miss Becky Jo
Sumner

— Recognition of Min-
isters and Visitors

— Appointment of
Committees

10:45 — Missions News,
Home and Foreign

11:00— Hymn, "Higher
Ground"

— Children's Home
Report

— Retirement Homes
Report

— Offering for the
Children's Home

11:25— Special Music, Host

Auxiliary
11:30— Message, Mrs. Dola

Dudley
12:00— Lunch
1:00— Hymn, "Leaning on

the Everlasting

Arms"

— Devotion, Mrs. Sue
Benson

1:15— Mount Olive College
News

1:30— Free Will Baptist

Press News
1:40 — Superannuation

News

1:50— Youth Report, Libby
Taylor
—Committee Reports

— Announcement of
Next Convention

— Miscellaneous Busi-
ness

— Reflections

— Benediction and Ad-
journment

KING'S CROSS ROADS
CHURCH, Route 1, Foun-
tain, has scheduled a series
of revival services for April
13-18. The Rev. Ray Wells,
pastor of Marsh Swamp
Church, Sims, will be the
guest evangelist.

The Rev. Bruce Jones,
pastor, cordially invites
everyone to attend.

FIRST CHURCH,
WILSON, will be the site of
a special service honoring
the Rev. Raymond T.
Sasser, on Sunday evening,
April 13. The service is to
begin at 6:30 p.m. Mr.
Sasser will be honored for a
lifetime of service to the
cause of Jesus Christ and
the Original Free Will Bap-
tist Church.

Dr. Burkette Raper and
the Rev. James Evans will
be the keynote speakers,
along with other
testimonies concerning the
work and service of Mr.
Sasser.

(Turn the Page)

April 1986

29

NEWS BRIEFS

Everyone is invited to this
special service of tribute to
this outstanding Free Will
Baptist pioneer. (Please
note: The attempt is to
make this a surprise to Mr.
Sasser.)

THE YOUTH LEADERS
AND YOUTH REPRESEN-
TATIVES OF THE
WESTERN CONFERENCE
gathered on March 6 and
formed the Western Con-
ference Youth Council
(WCYC). The purpose of the
Council is to promote
fellowship, learning, growth
and activities for the junior
high and senior high youth
and youth workers of the
Western Conference. The
officers of the Council are:
President — Dennis Smith,
First Church, Wilson; Vice
President— Glenda Hood,
Pleasant Grove Church;
Secretary/Treasurer— Ellen
Corbett, Pleasant Grove
Church; Western Con-
ference Youth Chair-
man—Nancy Boykin, Marsh
Swamp Church.

The Council will meet
again on Thursday, April 10,
at 7:30 p.m., at Pleasant
Grove Church in Pikeville.
All Western Conference
youth workers and two
young people of each
church are encouraged to
attend.

CORE CREEK CHURCH,
Cove City, will celebrate its
annual homecoming on
Sunday, May 4. The Rev.
N. B. (Tex) Barrow Jr. will be
the guest speaker. Lunch is
to be served afterwards pic-
nic style.

The Rev. Philip Wood,
pastor, and the congrega-
tion invite former members

and friends to come and
share this time with them.

THE STATE LAYMAN'S
LEAGUE CONVENTION will
sponsor the annual Gospel
Music Festival on May 3,
1986, at Eagle's Nest,
Mount Olive. The Festival
will run from 9:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m.; lunch will be
catered. The Down East
Boys and the Watchmen
Quartet are just two of the
groups which will be
featured.

No admission will be
charged to the Festival. In
the event of rain, the
Festival will be moved to
College Hall.

THE STATE LAYMAN'S
LEAGUE CONVENTION will
meet on May 16, at Bethany
Church, located five miles
south of Winterville. The
Convention will begin at
7:30 p.m. All laymen are en-
couraged to attend.

THE REV. FRANK HAR-
RISON will lead a Deeper
Life Conference at Angola
Church, beginning on Sun-
day night, April 13, 6 p.m.
and concluding on Tuesday
night. The services on Mon-
day and Tuesday night will
begin at 7:30 p.m.

The purpose of the con-
ference will be to help lay
people develop a deeper
and more meaningful
spiritual life on a day-to-day
basis. Mr. Harrison will lead
a Bible study on four topics:

1. "The Person and
Work of the Holy
Spirit — His Mini-
stry in the Life of
the Believer"

2. "Prayer— What the
Bible Teaches Us
About Prayer"

3. "Scripture— How
the Bible Con-
tributes to Our
Spiritual Life"

4. "The Believer—
His Position and
Privileges in
Christ"

Area churches are invited
to participate in the con-
ference.

Mr. Harrison is chaplain
and director of Denomina-
tional Services at Mount
Olive College.

MR. CLIFF GRAY has
been appointed Chairman
for the annual "Wheels for
Life" Bike-a-Thon in Ayden.
The event is scheduled for
May 17, 1986, with a rain
date of May 24, 1986. This
ride will benefit St. Jude
Children's Research
Hospital.

St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital is a
research-treatment-edu-
cation center where physi-
cians and scientists work-
ing side by side have actual-
ly succeeded in rewriting
medical textbooks through
painstaking research and
treatment advances.

This institution, now the
largest childhood cancer
research center in America,
owes its establishment to a
promise made years ago by
entertainer, Danny Thomas.
His dream became reality
when the doors of this non-
sectarian research hospital
opened in 1962 dedicated
solely to the conquest of
hopeless diseases of
children.

St. Jude Hospital is large-
ly supported by voluntary
contributions which are tax
deductible. Events such as

the "Wheels for Life" bike
ride raise the funds to con-
tinue the research and treat-
ment programs which are
freely shared with all physi-
cians and research scien-
tists.

PASTORAL CHANGES

The Rev. Harry Jones has
assumed the pastorate of
Pleasant Grove Church
(Cape Fear), near Erwin. His
new address is Route 3, Box
934, Dunn, NC 28334;
phone, 897-7355.

The Rev. McDonal Ben-
nett has assumed the
pastorate of Juniper Chapel
Church, Vanceboro. His
new address is Route 2, Box
507, Vanceboro, NC 28586;
phone, 244-1511.

MINISTER AVAILABLE

The Rev. William Littleton
is now available for full-time
or part-time pastoral ser-
vices. He can be contacted
by writing to him at Box 81,
Lowland, NC 28552; or by
calling 745-5298.

CHURCHES AVAILABLE

Highland Pines Church,
Piedmont Conference, is
seeking a pastor. Located in
Hamlet, North Carolina, the
church has a parsonage.
Anyone interested should
contact Tom Vaughn at
Route 4, Box 450, Rock-
ingham, NC 28379; or call
him at 582-1131; or phone
J. P. Huffman at 582-0165.

Saints Delight Church,
near Ormondsville, is seek-
ing a full-time pastor, effec-
tive the last Sunday in May.
Anyone interested should
contact Bruce Wade in Grif-
fon, 524-4669; or Jerry
McLawhorn in Ayden,
746-2472.

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513 0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000),

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist. P.O. Box 159. Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8,88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states,
$8.50, $15,50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches.
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m. — 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board of Directors — Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Robert Hadden, Production Manager; Janie Jones Sowers,
Editor of Literature.

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL!

DEVILED EGGS?

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly
sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are
like eggs at the present. And you cannot go on indefinitely be-
ing just an ordinary, decent egg. You must be natched or go
bad (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p. 169).

And hatch we must! It is time that you and I
get out of our shells and get into the gap. What
gap? I'm glad you asked.

There is a gap between God and man. It is a
gap between God and all He is and man and all he
is— in every respect. It is a gap between two par-
ties that cannot or will not accept each other. It is
also a gap between God's original intention for
mankind and Jesus', the Messiah's, final restora-
tion wherein a new people will fill and subdue the
earth with Him. So personal is this gap to God that
He gave His own Son to bridge it; it is personal for
Christians, too, for it lies between what God is do-
ing in our lives as people united to the Mediator
and what God still wants to do among nations.

"The single greatest gap among the nations
is between God's promise to fulfill world
evangelization through Christ's disciples and the
faith of those disciples to claim that promise and
act on it" (David Bryant). This gap of unbelief puts
definite limits on what Christ can do through us. It
makes us hesitant to take bold risks so that
redemption might come to all people. Our atten-
tion is then turned from reviewing the many
possibilities by which we might fulfill our task and
causes us to center our attention on our own self-
preservation. When our energies are focused in-
ward, we are blinded to the dreams, resources,
and strategies God would give us for bridging the
gap.

This is not some new struggle, however, for
down through history the church has constantly
had to battle just to get Christians to push for-
ward, to stop resting, to wake up, to stand
together, and to take hold of the victorious cause
Christ has given us for the world. Part of the

reason for our problem is due to the fact that we
are often held victims to the culprit of pea-sized
Christianity.

This type of Christianity can fall into several
categories. There is a convert Christianity, where
one's Christian life is no bigger than merely mak-
ing it safely inside the kingdom. Character Chris-
tianity involves the pulling of one's own spiritual
act together, while those who are concerned only
with meeting their own personal needs are said to
be consumption Christians. Cloister Christianity
exists when one's faith is no bigger than the
warm, secure fellowship he has each week with
his buddies. Church Christianity is the one most
of us are groping in. It is no bigger than the annual
Sunday School picnic, choir Christmas pageant,
monthly finance committee meetings, or scouting
out who's absent from midweek prayer service. A
last form of Christianity is culture Christianity and
it causes its victims to be concerned only with
those of like color, faith, and socioeconomic level.
Its members relish in their tried and true traditions
and erroneously equate the same with the eternal
ways to the Kingdom itself.

When our Christian experience expands no
further than our own salvation, group, church, or
future, it can be called pea-sized. When we com-
partmentalize our walk with Christ into neat
packages of prayer, Bible study, worship,
fellowship, and so on, it is pea-sized. When our ac-
tivities and interests do not link us vitally to the
reaching of earth's unsaved people, we've suc-
cumbed to pea-sized Christianity.

Fortunately, Christ did not save us to store in
boxes of pea-sized Christianity. He hasn't called
us to sit in our shells and to become ordinary, de-
cent eggs. Instead, He has laid hold of us to stand
with Him in the gap. So why do we settle for less?

And I sought for a man among them, that
should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap
before me for the land, that I should not destroy it:
but I found none (Ezekiel 22:30).

April 1986

31

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

Please consider this your invitation to
Ayden Bible and Bookstore's upcoming
Mini-Music Festival. This extraordinary
music event will be held on May 5, 1986, in
the Multipurpose Room, located in the
Bookstore facility. This music festival will
begin at 7:00 p.m., and will run about two
hours. Let us help you with your endless
search for new music material. Come and be
a part of this innovative and enriching ex-
perience.

iMiffifc

• Maximum of three people from one church

• $12 per person (after April 28, $15 per

person).

• All registrants will receive a Summer/

Fall Festival Packet.

• Send your registration to:

Ayden Bible and Bookstore
Box 159

Ayden, NC 28513-0159

• Registrations should be postmarked no

later than April 28, 1986.

Adult choir directors, youth choir directors,
children's choir directors, accompanists,
soloists, and YOU! Please, no more than
three participants per church.

This music festival costs $12 per person
(after April 28, $15 per person). This registra-
tion fee is non-refundable. (Registration is
limited, so do not wait to the last minute.)

Each registrant will receive a free music
packet of recent publications worth
over $45.

Ayden Bible and Bookstore will provide
discounts on selected materials during
the festival.

At least fifteen NEW titles from Singspira-
tion will be discussed and "demon-
strated" by our clinician, Larry White.

Ayden Bible and Bookstore will provide re-
freshments after the two-hour session,
at which time you will have an op-
portunity to talk with Mr. White as well
as acquaint yourself with other choir
and music directors.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

A

(J

mm

The Free Will

May, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 5

3

Growing Churches Are More Loving

by Dr. W. Charles Arn

5

Divided We Fall, Together We Stand

by John R. Williams

6

Practicing the Art of Friendship

by Ted W. Engstrom

Some Seed Will Yield

7

DEPARTMENTS

10 Foreign Missions

12 Sunday School Convention

14 Mount Olive College

20 Children's Home

26 Cragmont

28 News Briefs

32 State Youth Convention

34 Camp Vandemere

35 Editorial

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

GROWING CHURCHES
ARE MORE LOVING

by Dr. W. Charles Am

Growing churches are more loving— to
visitors— than declining churches. Ac-
cording to new research conducted by the In-
stitute for American Church Growth (Pasadena,
CA), members of growing churches reported
both giving and experiencing more love and car-
ing than members of declining churches. The
research also discovered a correlation between
an entire denomination's "love ability" and its
membership growth or decline. Members in
growing denominations, such as the Assemblies
of God, Church of the Nazarene, and Southern
Baptist, are apparently more loving than
members in declining denominations, such as
the Presbyterian, Lutheran, and United
Methodist!

Conventional explanations for the growth or
decline of churches have focused on areas such
as pastoral leadership, attractiveness of
facilities, location, liberal versus conservative
theology, and evangelistic fervor. But there is in-
creasing evidence that none of these issues in-
fluences a church's growth or decline as signi-
ficantly as how much love and acceptance
people experience when they attend. At a time
when falling memberships are of increasing con-
cern, this may require denominational leaders to
reconsider their philosophy and strategy of
church growth.

The Institute for American Church Growth,
a leading evangelical research and development
organization, surveyed over 8,600 people from 39
different Protestant denominations to measure
their "love-care quotient." Church members
completed a 17-question survey in a Sunday
morning service.

(Turn the Page)

The "love-quotients" of churches in the
same denomination were combined, and
fascinating relationships emerged between
"love" and "church growth":

* Of all Protestant denominations, members in the
Assemblies of God (which has grown by approximately
50% in the last ten years) find it easiest to say "I love
you." Members in the Lutheran Church— Missouri
Synod (a declining denomination) find it most difficult.

* Presbyterians feel their churches are least loving to
visitors. Members in the Church of Nazarene feel they
are most loving to visitors. (The Presbyterian Church,
USA, has declined by 15% in the last ten years; the
Church of the Nazarene has grown by 22% in this same
period.)

* Members in Southern Baptist churches (the largest
Protestant denomination in America) rate highest when
asked about how loving they are to each other.

* Growing churches, regardless of their denominational
affiliation, rate 35% higher in the degree of love ex-
perienced by visitors.

* Persons in growing churches report experiencing
significantly more love in their classes and small groups
than members of non-growing churches.

When the denominations' "love-quotients"
were compared to overall membership trends
for the past ten years, a correlation emerged be-
tween a denomination's "love-ability" and its

growth pattern. The "love-quotient" figures
below are based on a possible score of 100 (the
closer to 100, the greater love the church
reported). The second column shows the
membership trend for the years between 1975
and 1985.

Denomination

LCO

Trend

Christian Reformed

52

no change

Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod

54

decline

Conservative Baptist Association

56

decline

Reformed Church in America

. . .57

decline

Independent Baptist

. . .58

not available

Other Lutheran (combined)

58

decline

Moravian

. . .59

decline

Mennonite

59

growth

Brethren

.60

decline

United Methodist

. 61

decline

Christian and Missionary Alliance

61

growth

Christian Church (Disciples)

63

decline

Episcopal

. . .63

decline

American Baptist

64

decline

Presbyterian Church (USA)

64

decline

Christian Church (Church of Christ)

65

no change

Baptist General Conference

66

growth

Free Methodist

68

growth

Evangelical Free

68

growth

Independent

68

growth

Church of the Nazarene

69

growth

Church of God (Anderson, IN)

70

growth

Presbyterian Church in America

70

growth

Assemblies of God

71

growth

Missionary Church

72

growth

Foursquare Church

72

growth

Church of God (Cleveland, TN)

73

growth

Southern Baptist

74

growth

(80% of the churches with a "love-quotient" below 65
declined during the last ten years. 92% of the churches
with 65 or above experienced growth.)

Dr. Win Arn, president of The Institute for
American Church Growth and principal re-
searcher in the study, concludes, "Most
churches that are growing today have learned
how to love. A church that loves people is a
church that grows. Unfortunately not all
churches are practicing the command to love
which appears more often than any other in the
Bible. We are finding that love can be
taught— and learned— in churches that seem to
have forgotten how. Learning to love, or to love
again, is the most important first step for a
church that wants to grow. ' '

A more complete summary of the results and implications of
this first extended study of love in the church is presented in
the new book Who Cares About Love? ($6.95) by Dr. Win Arn,
Mr. Carroll Nyquist, and Dr. Charles Arn. The book is
available from Church Growth Press (709 E. Colorado Blvd.,
Pasadena, CA 91101). The authors have also produced two
thirty-minute color films on the same subject.

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

In Matthew 12:25 we find Jesus saying,
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought
to desolation; and every city or house divided
against itself shall not stand."

The words, "a house divided against itself
will fall," are words that can be applied to many
areas of our lives. I believe that in our work as a
denomination and as a church unity is strength
and division is failure. Differing views will
always be with us. When you put different peo-
ple together views are varied. Differences are
good because they can give our church a
healthy balance. However, when we focus more
attention on what divides us, differences
become a problem. We become divided against
ourselves. We lose sight of what unites us as a
church and denomination. I believe we as Free
Will Baptists are divided and are becoming more
divided. We are losing sight of what should
unite us.

HOW ARE WE DIVIDED?

We are divided against ourselves as the
Scripture states. The division that is causing us
so much trouble is not theological or doctrinal
in nature. On many of these issues we are able
to agree or disagree. We are divided in that peo-
ple are placed in groups or camps labeled liberal
and fundamental. Each camp plays a game of
politics hoping to put its people in positions of
power. The desire is to pull the denomination to
their way of doing things. An atmosphere of
mistrust has evolved and become a way of life
for the denomination. I believe that we are so
busy playing the power game that real ministry
has almost been forgotten. There are people
who are in need of the help the church can give.

There are people who are lost without Christ.
Am I right? Have we lost sight of the vision?

WHAT SHOULD WE UNITE ON?

For me it is my Lord and my fellow human
beings. Matthew 22:36-40 is the basis for what I
believe about the work of the ministry. Here
Jesus was asked, "Master, which is the greatest
commandment? Jesus said to him, "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind . . . the second
is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. On these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets."

What unites us is the call by our Lord to do
the work of the ministry. We should be so con-
sumed with the actual doing of ministry that our
differences are trivial. We must minister to peo-
ple and the basis for our work is love of God and
our fellow human beings. If this love is seen
lacking by the world, then we fail. If it is lacking,
we have nothing to say to our world.

HOW CAN WE UNITE?

The first step was taken by God when
Christ became the propitiation for our sins.
Through Christ we belong to God. We need to
let this sink in. We all belong to Christ.

Second, we must make a clear-cut decision
to get on with the work. Let's decide that there
is room in this denomination for all of us, even
with our differences, and stop fighting and go to
work.

Third, let us look to God together for
strength and power to do this work. We do not
have the power in and of ourselves to ac-
complish what must be done.

May 1986

5

PRACTICING THE ART
OF FRIENDSHIP

by Ted W. Engstron

At 7 a.m. one May morn-
ing, Pat Moore, who

looked like she must be 85 years
old, stepped out of her New
York apartment. Awkwardly
and nervously she moved down
the hall to begin one of the
strangest trips of her life.

At the bottom of the steps her
landlady saw her and ex-
claimed, "Oh, I'm sorry. I was
expecting somebody else."

"Don't you recognize me?"
said Pat, her voice strained and
cracked.

"No, ma'am, I don't," said
the landlady, staring at the
frail woman.

"I'm Pat Moore," was the
laughing reply.

Her landlady stared in
disbelief.

You see, Pat Moore was only
26 years of age. She had just
begun a three-year stint of
repeatedly masquerading for
hours at a time as an old
woman.

Deeply concerned about how
Americans respond to the aged,
she was going to find out for
herself.

Pat soon learned, as she had
suspected, that many older peo-
ple are ignored simply because
they are old. But during that
time she also developed such a
sensitivity for the aged that she
actually started to feel old. Her
experience was the consum-
mate definition of friendship:
identity with others.

I mention this because I know
that one of the most subtle and
persistent temptations that
face a Christian leader is to
discriminate on the basis of

position in life. We may not con-
sciously say, "That person isn't
as good as I am and doesn't
merit my friendship," but our
actions reveal that we see them
in a different light. Because
they don't have an engaging

personality or the education
and experience we have, or
because they can't converse on
the topics we enjoy, or because
they don't have the respon-
sibility we have, we don't treat
them as equals. Therefore, we
miss what they have to offer
our own tired spirits, and we
miss the blessing of having
another friend.

Treating others as equals is a
keystone of learning to be a
friend. Over the years, I've
discovered five guidelines that
have helped me to treat others
as equals:

1. Recognize that the more
you give away, the more you
will receive. This is a law of

God. You can't give your love
away without its coming back
to you ten, twenty, or even one
hundred times over.

2. Let people know your dif-
ferences so they can see who
you really are. No two people
are alike. Nor do we have to be
photocopies of each other to en-
joy each other. (When was the
last time you made a point of
talking to someone you knew
had a radically different point
of view? )

3. Avoid labeling people.
Black, white, lower economic,
evangelical, Democrat, so-
cialist. Leo Buscaglia calls
these "distancing pheno-
mena." Too often we slap these
labels on people who, we feel,
have nothing to say to us.

4. Refuse to merely exist.
Live creatively. If we only
knew how great is our potential
compared with how little we
settle for, we'd be astounded.
Make every day count; leave a
legacy of friendships.

5. Reactivate your childhood
heart. Jesus reminded His
disciples— and us— that Heaven
itself is made up of those who
never lose their childlike
nature. As we get older, if we're
not careful, we get a hardening
of the childlike arteries. If we
can somehow recapture the
freshness of that childlike
spirit, we will find ourselves
free to explore the most
wonderful relationships,
regardless of race, economic
status or education.

I offer these suggestions to
you because I firmly believe
that practicing the fine art of
friendship will both enrich your
life and enhance your perfor-
mance as a Christian leader. In
fact, you'll find that amazing
things happen when you take
the initiative to give those
around you the gift of yourself.

(Used by permission, World Vision,
April/May, 1986.)

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

1

SOME SEED WILL YIELD

i i T 'VE been gypped!" complained an
J. angry man to the Atlanta Constitu-
tion newspaper. "For three years straight now
I've been buying a bag marked 'wild birdseed'
at a grocery store and planting the seed.
Nothing has ever come up. Should I sue the
company?"

Bird lovers may sympathize with the man
in the loss of his money. But they might also be
tempted to advise him that bagged birdseed is
for the birds and not for planting!

Have you ever sown seeds and wondered
why plants never came up? Perhaps the seeds
were old and had lost their fertility. Perhaps
they were planted too deep or too shallow.
Perhaps the birds or bugs ate them. Or maybe
they did come up, but cutworms got the plants.

Jesus, in His parable about a sower (Mat-
thew 13:3-9), told how the seed fell on different
kinds of ground. Some fell by the wayside and
were devoured by the birds. Some fell in stony
ground, sprang up quickly and then withered
away. Some fell among thorns and were choked
and yielded no fruit. Jesus explained that this
was like the Word of God being sown among
men.

True Christians have an inherent desire to
share their faith with others. We want to sow
the seed as our Lord commanded. But
sometimes we may wonder, even as the man
who planted birdseed, why we never see any
results.

Could it be that we are planting the wrong
seeds, as he did? Jesus said the seed is the
Word of God. This is the seed for a Christian to
plant in witnessing, for the Word of God does
the work of God.

Can personal opinions or arguments on side
issues have the power to bear fruit in a life that
the Word of God has? They can't, because they
are like the birdseed. Regardless of whom we
are witnessing to, the best thing to do is stick to
the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

Yet what if we do tell others about Christ
and use Scripture and nothing seems to be hap-
pening. It's discouraging, isn't it? Birds and

bugs may get our flower seeds; and as Jesus
said, the birds devour seed scattered by the
wayside. What should we do when this hap-
pens?

Keep on sowing. The Bible says, "And let
us not be weary in well doing; for in due season
we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).

Sometimes the seed might be planted
wrong, even as literal seeds may be planted too
deeply or in ground which is too shallow. We
may give forth the Word to someone without
backing it with prayer or genuine concern.
Some Christians hit people over the head with
the Word in a superior, contentious spirit.
That's really burying it! On the other hand, our
stand for Christ and the Bible may be wishy-
washy, a shallow planting that bears no fruit.

The Bible says, "He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless
come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves
with him" (Psalm 126:6).

It's a joy to see young plants spring up,
isn't it? It's also a joy to see the Word spring
forth into life eternal for some fellow human
being.

But what happens to young tomato plants
when cutworms have been busy during the
night? Disasterville !

You have to surround the young plants with
little cardboard collars to protect them from
the devastations of cutworms. Or if you put
tomato plants out too early in the spring, frost
might get them; so you must cover them with
caps at night.

Even so, young Christians need the prayers
and ministrations of older Christians to help
protect them from the devastations of the
enemy, Satan. They need to be nurtured by the
Word, helped to grow to the point where they
can stand firm for the Lord. They need to be
covered with the protective mantle of prayer,
even as Paul said in Ephesians 6:18, "Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints."

It takes a lot of work to be a good husband-
man for the Lord— but it's worth it!

Remember, some seed will yield fruit.

May 1986

7

Well, the reports are in and many of us may be surprised by what they show. The information gained
through personal interviews with teenagers concerning their intimate feelings, thoughts and hopes for
the future reveals much about what they do and do not approve of today. Some of the findings of the
report are cited for you below.

(If you are interested in reading more about this, see Jane Rinzler's Teens Speak Out: A Report from
Today's Teens on Their Most Intimate Thoughts, Feelings and Hopes for the Future, $7.95.)

SPEAK OUT

BOYS

Abortion

Cheating in school

Cigarettes

Divorce

Drinking

Drugs

Extramarital affairs
Homosexuality
Premarital sex
Promiscuity

Abortion

Cheating in school

Cigarettes

Divorce

Drinking

Drugs

Extramarital affairs
Homosexuality
Premarital sex
Promiscuity

% Disapprove

33
65
73
51
34
73
86
72
22
37

GIRLS

% Disapprove

35
75
63
28
35
82
97
55
33
56

% Approve

48
15
22
26
49
17
8
13
61
25

% Approve

42
13
25
48
46

7

0
20
43
10

% Undecided

19
20

5
23
17
10

6
15
17
38

% Undecided

23
12
12
24
19
11
3
25
24
34

The following charts list the activity in the order of how greatly they are dis-
approved.

BOYS

Extramarital affairs

Drugs

Cigarettes

Homosexuality

Cheating in school

Divorce

Drinking

Promiscuity

Abortion

Premarital sex

Extramarital affairs
Drugs

Cheating in school

Cigarettes

Promiscuity

Homosexuality

Abortion

Drinking

Premarital sex

Divorce

% Disapprove

86
73
73
72
65
51
34
37
33
22

GIRLS

% Disapprove

97
82
75
63
56
55
35
35
33
28

% Approve

8
17
22
13
15
26
49
25
48
61

% Approve

0

7
13
25
10
20
42
46
43
48

% Undecided

6
10
5

15
20
23
17
38
19
17

% Undecided

3
11
12
12
34
25
23
19
24
24

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

THE NORTH CAROLINA

FREE WILL BAPTIST

LAYMAN'S LEAGUE CONVENTION

Cordially Invites You to Attend
a

FESTIVAL OF
GOSPEL MUSIC

G- OWSBOTO

Saturday, May 3, 1986
(Hp Eagles Nest Conference Center
Beginning at 9:30 a.m

Lunch Will Be Catered
by Wilber's of Goldsboro
($4 per plate)

PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

THE MONARCHS, Wilson, NC
FRANK MILLS BAND, Hollister, NC
THE WATCHMEN, Goldsboro, NC
THE DOWNEAST BOYS, Potter's Hill, NC
THE CANAANLAND SINGERS, Princeton, NC
THE NEW LIFE SINGERS, Wilson, NC

RAIN SITE: College Hall, Mount Olive College

NO ADMISSION

May 1986

9

FOREIGN MISSIONS

WORLD MISSIONS
CONFERENCE IMPACT

by Harold Jones

The conference this year was
perhaps the most significant
conference we have ever held.
David Bryant set the stage for
in-depth prayer in our church.
You may not have attended, but
you will see and be a part of the
results. There is a realization
among many that we Free Will
Baptists need revival. We have
tried many things to stir the
church into fervent activity and
excitement for the Lord, but it
seems that every effort is like a
soap bubble that looks good for
a moment and then bursts, and
we return to the same old thing.
Our need is not more programs,
more activities, more how-to-
seminars. Our need is prayer.
David Bryant shared with us
the biblical basis for concerts of
prayer. Prayer changes things.
We need to pray, seeking the

10

fullness of Christ (revival) and
also fulfillment (the evan-
gelization of the world).
These two things should bring
excitement to the church. All of
us desire a deeper walk with
God, and our greatest joy
should be others trusting Christ
as Saviour and Lord, not just
now and then, but regularly.
This is God's plan, but it will
not happen if we do not pray.

Churches all over the world
are growing. The chief reason
is prayer. Could it be that the
reason the Free Will Baptist
Church is not growing, is not
seeing the miraculous power of
God manifested, is that we are
not praying? The Bible says,
"Ye have not because ye ask
not." This means more than
just endless requests. It means
to sincerely seek the face of
God.

In the January-February
issue of World Christian
Magazine, there is an article on
page 46 about the church in
Korea. This is the fastest grow-
ing church in the world. WHY?
The writer states the following
reason:

The main reason for church
growth in Korea is that every
church is praying. And we're not
praying in America— that's the
bottom line. God is giving an ex-
ample to us, saying, "People,
wake up. I want you to pray."
I believe we are in the early
stages of revival and as our
devotion to prayer intensifies,
the flame will sweep every per-
son and every facet of our
church. As this happens, our
determination to reach all peo-
ple with the gospel will become
the burning desire of our life.
Praise the Lord to be living in
this exciting time.

Books and tapes available: Books
written by David Bryant are available
through this office: Board of Foreign
Missions, P.O. Box 39, Ay den, NC
28513: Concerts of Prayer and In the
Gap ($4 each). Tapes of the World Mis-
sions Conference are also available at
$3.50 each. Write the Rev. Doug Skin-
ner, P.O. Box 117, Arapahoe, NC 28510.
These books and tapes will revolu-
tionize your thinking about prayer and
help you move toward a more mean-
ingful prayer life. Order today!

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

CONSULTATION OF EVANGELISM

Missionary Fred Baker in consultation with Filipino workers.

by Fred P. Baker

Leaders and pastors of the
Free Will Baptist Church
Philippines assembled at the
Puerto Princesa Free Will Bap-
tist Church on December 16 and
17 for its first consultation on
evangelism.

Speakers and topics for the
occasion were: The Rev.
Jaapal Ontong— "What Is
Evangelism? ' ' ; Pastor Andrino
Segay— "The Need of Evan-
gelism"; Fred Baker— "The
Motivation for Evangelism";
and the Rev. Ludgerio E.
Malinao— "Evangelism Explo-
sion III." Delegates attending
the consultation were divided
into groups for discussion and
interaction with the speaker's
message.

Three foundation biblical
truths emerged from the
discussion time. (1) The
greatest mission of God is
world evangelization. (2) The
greatest mission of the church
is world evangelization. (3) The
greatest mission of every
believer is world evangeliza-
tion.

Upon reaffirming these three
truths, the consultation body
drafted the following state-
ment: "We, the members of
this first consultation on
evangelism of the Free Will
Baptist Church, do this day,
December 17, 1985, agree to the

following statements and en-
courage every Free Will Bap-
tist member to work and be a
part in implementing these.

1. Every person in the world
should hear the gospel.

2. Every believer must be
equipped to share the gospel in
the expression of their spiri-
tual gifts.

3. Every believer must be
equipped to disciple new con-
verts, to live for Christ, and to
share the gospel.

4. Evangelism Explosion III pro-
vides one model of evangelism
that can fulfill the objectives of
one, two, and three.

5. Every believer must be moti-
vated by love for God and his
fellowman."

Let us pray together that this
first consultation on evan-
gelism will refreshen and
sharpen our vision of winning
the world to Christ in our
generation.

GRUBBS FAMILY BEGINS DEPUTATION

Paul, Nathaniel, Teresa, and Matthew Grubbs

The Grubbs Family, missionary candidates to the Philippines, have moved to
Lowland, North Carolina. Their new address is: Route 1, Box 106, Lowland, NC 28552;
phone, 745-3359. They have a few dates open to visit in our churches before their
planned departure to the Philippines on September 30, 1986. Give them an appoint-
ment to visit your church. Contact them at the address above.
Prayer requests:

1. Pray for their safety as they travel to different churches.

2. Pray for their support level. It must be reached before September 30.

3. Pray for the visa process. We will begin the process soon. This will be our first ap-
plication for a missionary visa under the new government in the Philippines.

4. Pray for their good health and for a constant spiritual life.
Your prayers are a vital ministry. Please pray.

May 1986

11

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

This is a new program sponsored by the
Sunday School Convention. It was introduced
and explained at the meeting of the Convention
in March.

Do you have an outstanding teacher in your
Sunday School? Would you like to recognize
and honor him or her? If so, then why not
nominate this person to be Teacher of the
Year?

The process for nominating a teacher is
simple. Write to me and I will send you all the
information and forms you need. My address
is: Bass Mitchell, Route 7, Box 471, Goldsboro,
NC 27530. My phone number is 734-8378.

There are four forms which must be filled
out and sent back to me. One is to be com-
pleted by the teacher being nominated ; another
by a person in the teacher's class; one by the
superintendent; and the last one is to be filled
out by the pastor.

We will send these forms to you in a
packet. There is a cover letter included which
tells you everything you need to know and do.
Also, there is an envelope with my address on
it which you can use to send back the com-
pleted forms.

There is a $10 nominating fee for each
teacher nominated. This should be sent in with
each set of completed forms. It is strongly
recommended that the church or Sunday
School pay this fee.

It is important that you get these forms
and fill them out as soon as possible. The
deadline for this year is December 1st.

The first Teacher of the Year Award will
be presented at the meeting of the Sunday
School Convention in March of 1987. Every
teacher nominated will also be recognized.
THANKS!

We would like to express our thanks and
gratitude to so many people who made our last
Convention meeting a great success.

Many thanks to Gary Bailey, Janie Sowers,
Bill Futch and De Wayne Eakes for leading our
workshops. You did a tremendous job! We
deeply appreciate your time and talents given
so freely.

Thanks are also in order to the good people
of Stoney Creek Church. They hosted our Con-
vention.

We would also like to thank all of you who
attended our Convention. Without your
presence, we would not have even had it! In
fact, without you we have no reason for ex-
isting. Thanks for all your support. Our prayer

is that you found the meeting helpful and in-
spirational. And if you have any ideas on ways
to help us improve it or any of our programs,
please share them with us.

COURSES COMPLETED

In February and March, the two courses in
the Basic Teacher Certificate were taught at
Kinston Church. The following persons were
enrolled: Clara Elmore, Adrian Grubbs, Milton
Harper, Ada Hines, Lucille Holland, Irene
Jenkins, Stanley Jenkins, Linda Jenkins, Nettie
Jenkins, Phoebe Kennedy, Alice Kivett, James
Lucas, Daphna Lucas, Sybil Robinson, Doris
Smith, Robert Smith, Barbara Smith, Vivian
Sugg, Charles Sumrell, Margie Wiley.

These fine teachers represented five
churches. They are: Deep Run, Pilgrims
Home, Westside, Kinston and Smith's New
Home.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THIS ONE

Recently I have had the pleasure of
meeting and getting to know the new pastor of
Black Jack Church. He is the Rev. Dan Rivers.
This dedicated minister is very concerned
about and involved in the Sunday School of
Black Jack Church. And under his leadership, I
see many great things happening there.

I also had the pleasure of meeting with the
Sunday School Cabinet of Black Jack Church.
Benjie Forrest is the General Superintendent
and thus the chairman of this Cabinet. I was
impressed by their concern, dedication,
creativity and willingness to work hard to im-
prove their Sunday School.

One of the ways to improve your Sunday
School is through learning from other Sunday
Schools. The Sunday School of Black Jack
Church is one that you can learn a lot from. It
has a good program, a wide variety of creative
activities, is a growing Sunday school and is
unafraid to try new ideas and programs.

Keep your eyes on this Sunday School! It
can help show us what the Sunday School can
be and do!

A RESOURCE PERSON

That's what I am as your Field Secretary!
Do you have an upcoming meeting of your
teachers or Sunday School Council? I would be
glad to come and share with you what we offer
and to explore ways to help your Sunday School
grow and improve. I offer you practical and
proven ideas. I can refer you to the best
resources on Sunday School work available to-
day. I can help you solve problems in a

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

ISUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

creative manner. I can help you evaluate your
Sunday School and design specific programs
for improving it. I can help you set up training
programs and get training resources for your
Sunday School officers and teachers. I can help
you establish a Sunday School Council, as well
as suggesting ways to improve the organization
and administration of your Sunday School.

Please call upon me if I can be of any ser-
vice to you. I am your Field Secretary!

SUMMER IDEAS

The following are some ideas and activities
that just might bring some new life to your
Sunday School and classes during the summer
months.

Have a field day. Plan recreational ac-
tivities for your whole Sunday School, perhaps
on a Sunday afternoon. Have a recreational
leader to plan activities for each age group. Let
classes compete in various games. Have a light
supper together and then an evening vesper
service.

Take advantage of the good weather. Take
your class outside for the lesson from time to
time. Classrooms can get stuffy.

Plan a lot of class get-togethers. These are
important. Meet in your homes. Take a trip
together. Have a pool party. Have a class
cookout.

Plan a workday for teachers. Get the
teachers and some of their class members to
take a day to come and work in their
classroom— to clean up, take down old posters
or bulletin boards, put up new materials, do

some painting, if needed; and to make general
improvements in their rooms.

Plan a Sunday School picnic. We used to
have these in days gone by. I really enjoyed
them.

Why not have your morning worship ser-
vice at 10 and your Sunday School at 11 during
the summer months? Some churches do this all
the time and really like it. Others have Sunday
School at 9 and morning worship at 10. A
change in the routine can often be refreshing.

Why not have your Sunday School on Satur-
day? You could have it from 10 to 12, and then
have lunch together. This certainly would give
you more time for Christian education.

Offer elective courses for your adults dur-
ing the summer. One course could be based on
the quarterly. Another could be a study of a
book of the Bible that many would like to
study. Another course could be on Christian
parenting or some other topic of interest and
concern to your adults. The adults then choose
the class in which they would like to par-
ticipate.

Call off your Sunday School one Sunday.
Encourage your classes to ride around in your
community or in their communities during the
usual Sunday School hour and look for persons
who do not attend Sunday School. They should
keep a list of such persons and where they live.
Then next week they can call or visit these per-
sons and invite them to Sunday School.

Plan a Teacher Breakfast Sunday. This is
simply a time for teachers to get together for
some good food, fellowship, and prayer.

May 1986

The event will be in College Hall, beginning at 10:30 a.m. It will be a
day to remember. In years to come you will want to tell your children and
grandchildren, "I was there!" And you deserve to be here because your
support, prayers and words of encouragement have helped to make it all
possible.

Music by the Brass Quintet of the North Carolina Symphony will begin
at 10 a.m. and the procession will enter at 10:30 a.m. In the history
of Original Free Will Baptists, there has never been a day like this one,

but we need your presence to make it complete.

We will be looking for you!

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

I MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGEI

■

GRADUATION—

"AN HISTORIC EVENT"

"Graduation this year will be
an historic event at Mount
Olive College in that we will
award our first baccalaureate
degrees," says President W.
Burkette Raper. "We have
planned two major events for
the graduating class." The Col-
lege family and honored guests
will hear two outstanding
speakers.

THE

COMMENCEMENT
WORSHIP SERVICE

The Rev. Marvin
Waters, an alumnus of
Mount Olive College, will speak
at the commencement worship
service. The service will be held in
Rodgers Chapel on Sunday, May 4, at 8 p.m.

Currently the pastor of St. Mary's Church in
New Bern, Waters is a 1973 graduate of Mount
Olive College and a winner of the College's Jor-
dan (Citizenship) Award. He received his
master's degree from East Carolina University.

Waters serves on the Board of Directors of
Religious Community Services for the city of
New Bern, Committee for Children of Craven
County, and the Board of Foreign Missions of the
North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists.

GRADUATION

The Honorable James B. Hunt Jr., former
North Carolina governor, will give the com-

(Turn the

mencement
address.
Graduation
exercises
are set for 10:30
a.m. in College Hall.

The former
governor's family is
recognized for giving tireless
leadership and support to Mount
Olive College. For 22 years his father,
James B. Hunt Sr., has been a member of the
College Board of Trustees, serving as chairman
since 1974. This period of time parallels the
beginning of construction of the first buildings on
the main campus.

His mother, Mrs. Elsie B. Hunt, was a
member of the original campus beautification
committee. The Hunts have established the Elsie
Brame and James B. Hunt Endowment and are
among the first chapter library patrons of Mount
Olive College.

Mr. Hunt Sr. has devoted endless hours
working on behalf of the College representing
Mount Olive at church, business and civic

meetings.

Page)

May 1986

15

HARRISON TO LEAD
DEEPER LIFE
CONFERENCE

The Rev. Frank Harrison

The Rev. Frank Harrison will
lead a Deeper Life Conference
at White Oak Church, Bladen-
boro, beginning on Sunday
night, May 25, 8 p.m. The Con-
ference will conclude on Tues-
day night. The services will be
at 8 p.m. each night.

The purpose of the Con-
ference will be to help lay peo-
ple develop a deeper and more
meaningful spiritual life on a
day-to-day basis. Mr. Harrison
will lead a Bible study on four
topics :

1. "The Person and Work of the
Holy Spirit— His Ministry in the
Life of the Believer"

2. "Prayer— What the Bible
Teaches Us About Prayer"

3. "Scripture— How the Bible
Contributes to Our Spiritual
Life"

4. "The Believer— His Position
and Privileges in Christ"

Area churches are invited to
participate in the Conference.

Mr. Harrison is Chaplain and
director of Denominational Ser-
vices at Mount Olive College.

I MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

CHAPEL SPEAKER PRESENTS BOOK— Dr. George W. Braswell, left, presents his
book, To Ride a Magic Carpet, to Mount Olive College Librarian Gary Barefoot and Col-
lege Chaplain Frank R. Harrison. Dr. Braswell, professor of missions at Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest, spoke during a "Missions Day" service.
His book is an account of his experiences as a missionary in Iran.

JOIN US FOR SPRING VISITATION DAY

Plans for the fall semester at Mount Olive College have
already begun and applications are up 30 percent over this
time last year. Students who have not made their college plans
are invited to attend Spring Visitation Day on Saturday, May
3.

The campus-wide open house is for prospective students
and parents. It will begin with registration at 9:45 a.m. in the
Henderson Building and end early in the afternoon.

Tours, lunch and entertainment are scheduled along with
sessions on admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and stu-
dent and academic affairs.

Financial aid is still available for the fall semester and
qualified Free Will Baptist students may receive the Free Will
Baptist Tuition Grant of $1,500 per year.

For information contact Dianne B. Riley, Director of Ad-
missions, Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365 (telephone 919/658-2502).

16

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

I MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGEI

CHARLES BARNARD— A PASTOR WITH A PURPOSE

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information

Already a man of ac-
complishment, the Rev.
Charles Barnard of Goldsboro
decided to return to college. It
would seem that his life was
firmly in place. He had earned
an associate in arts degree
from Brewton-Parker College
in Georgia. He had served as a
missionary in the Philippines
and was an ordained Free Will
Baptist minister.

It would take time and effort
to attend college while serving
a full-time church, but Barnard
had a purpose.

"Coming to Mount Olive Col-
lege puts you in the midst of
what is happening in the
denomination," says Barnard.
"It gives you exposure among
Free Will Baptists. People you
meet, contacts you make,
friendship you build— it's all
part of the education."

He adds enthusiastically, "I
had already decided that I
wanted to be one of the first
four-year graduates of Mount
Olive College!"

Before enrolling at Mount
Olive, Barnard, his wife Jackie,
and children, Shanna and Jef-
frey, lived for three years on
the Philippine island of
Palawan. They arrived for mis-
sionary duty on March 11, 1982.
Exactly one month later, on
April 11, Barnard was ordained
a Free Will Baptist minister. A
variety of duties fell to the
young minister at the Palawan
Bible Institute.

"I was dean of the Institute, a
teacher and pastoral coun-
selor," remembers Barnard.
"We wanted to stay, but due to
family illnesses we were forced
to return to the United States."

The family returned to
Goldsboro where they had lived
during their deputation prior to
the mission assignment.

"When we came back Mount
Olive College had begun its
four-year program. I accepted
the pastorate of Casey's Chapel
and realized that I could be
both a minister at a church and
at the same time pursue my
academic studies. The benefits
to me are the accessibility,
since we live in Wayne County,
and the affordability."

Barnard takes advantage of
financial aid provided by the
College. He is eligible for the
Free Will Baptist Tuition Grant
and a Ministerial Scholarship,
along with other grants and
loans.

"The fact that my wife can
attend college is also a benefit
to us," he says. "Although she
had to leave college because of
a health problem, she has com-
pleted one semester.

"One of the big highlights of
being here is 'sitting at the feet'
of Dr. Pelt," comments Bar-
nard. "His counsel is so wise.
Dr. Pelt knows so much about
the denomination and is aware
of what is happening in the
Body of Christ worldwide."

President of the Theological
Student Fellowship, an

organization for religion ma-
jors, Barnard is also a keen stu-
dent.

"Charles' broad experience
in the armed forces and as a
missionary have greatly
enhanced his capacity to
benefit from his learning ex-
periences in the classroom and
library," says Dr. Michael R.
Pelt, Barnard's academic ad-
visor.

Barnard feels that all of the
courses he has taken at Mount
Olive have prepared him for
future endeavors.

"I've found that all classes
are related to my fields of in-
terest. Whether it is Free Will
Baptist Church, history of
Christianity, philosophy,
psychology, religion in
America or hymnody— every
subject taken has prepared me
for graduate school or
seminary, as well as continuing
in the ministry."

On May 10, Barnard will
receive a bachelor of science
degree in Christian ministries.

"I think being here and
graduating with the first four-
year class is a way of being
part of our denominational
history. No matter what else I
do in the future, I'll always be
glad that I was one of the
first!"

The Rev. Charles Barnard, left, works in the library with his academic advisor, Dr.
Michael R. Pelt. Barnard is a senior at Mount Olive College, a pastor and a former mis-
sionary.

(Turn the Page)

May 1986

17

<0
00
0>

<

1

3

1

e

"8

s

a

m

c

o

5

e

3

45

c

c

c

IT) $2

O)

c

Z » <- 00 U1

2 * «- »- CM

* ^ t- »- CM

|(M<Tnono

u-> cm o> <o

»- CM

u.

t- co m

«- r- CM

Jh

«- <- CM

CMOXOOQ
t- CM CO

00 IT) CM C/>
«- CM CM

S

r- •» i- CO

t- CM CM

(A

t- CM CM

—

CO

Ml

«

5
C

CM

c

r

co

m
c

o

■»
c

SO

o
co

c

o

£

o

—m CO

c
o

£

c

o

o

■ft co

5s

c

8

CM

0>8

c
o
j£
O

c

i_

.c

O

r- $

©co
co

c

'-'
B

o

CM

CM

c
5
i:

c
o
£

c
o

o

c

0

2

£
o

z

(A

c

0)

O

a)

(0

2

[CHILDREN'S HOME| ^■^■■■■■■^■1

May Is Children's Home Month.

May 18 has been designated by the State Convention as
CHILDREN'S HOME DAY. On behalf of our children we wish to thank
you for your prayers and support for our Child Care Ministry. Your sup-
port is helping to ensure that we continue in the future to provide "A
CHRISTIAN HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS/'

HELPFUL HINTS

From Child to Important Adults
Be firm and consistent with me. Whenever possible, explain conse-
quences of an action before I commit it and then "follow through."
I prefer firmness. It makes me feel more secure.
Identify my bad habits to me and help me think of more appropriate
behaviors. Remember, force will not stop them.
Let me do what I can for myself. It makes me feel smaller than I am
when you do everything for me.

Correct me privately. I'll take more notice if you talk quietly with me
when it is just us.

For some reason my hearing is not very good in the "heat" of a situa-
tion; my cooperation is even worse. Discuss the matter with me later
and remember I need you to be firm and consistent.
Help me to feel as if it is all right to make mistakes as long as I learn
from them.

When I say "I hate you," please don't be too upset. I don't really mean
it; I just want you to feel sorry of what you have done to me.
Allow me to face the consequences of my actions. I need to learn from
experience.

Help me to understand why I ought not to have all I want. Many times
when I ask for things I am only testing you.

I may appear deaf if you keep reminding me of something repeatedly.
So try telling me things once and then allowing me to experience the
consequences.

Listen to my physical complaints but don't get too concerned. Some-
times they may be my way of getting attention.
Only make promises you can keep. I feel badly let down when prom-
ises are broken.

Remember one reason I am not always accurate is that I cannot ex-
plain myself as well as I would like.

(CHILDREN'S HOMEI

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN
OF THE 80's

by Ina Hughs

I have been bothered more than ever before in my life by the sharp
difference between children of the haves and children of the
have-nots. The affluent have problems like anorexia, suicide,
materialism, and which soap opera to watch. The poor wander the streets
and stare at us across borderlines and ghettos, trying to stay alive, hop-
ing for crumbs and a kind heart.

One group seems to have everything and not know what to do with it.
The other seems to have nothing and no hope of getting anything.

I don't believe God planned it to be that way. Maybe if our prayers in-
cluded not only our own children in our own neighborhoods, but also those
whose names we'll never know who suffer in places we've never
been— maybe then we would be closer to the time when God can, once
again, smile over what He has made and call it good. Or, at least, better.

1

We pray for children

Who put chocolate fingers everywhere,

Who like to be tickled,

Who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,
Who sneak Popsicles before supper,
Who erase holes in math workbooks,
Who never can find their shoes.

And we pray for those

Who stare at photographers from behind barbed
wire,

Who can't bounce down the street
In a new pair of sneakers,
Who never "counted potatoes, "
Who are bom in places we wouldn't be caught
dead,

Who never go to the circus,
Who live in an X-rated world.

Who pray for children

Who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dande-
lions,

Who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,
Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch
money,

Who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing
off key,

Who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
Who slurp their soup.

And we pray for those
Who never get dessert,

Who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,

Who watch their parents watch them die,

Who can't find any bread to steal,

Who don't have rooms to clean up,

Whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,

Whose monsters are real.

We pray for children

Who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and
Pick at their food,
Who like ghost stories,

Who shove dirty clothes under the bed

And never rinse out the tub,

Who get visits from the tooth fairy,

Who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,

Who squirm in church and scream in the phone,

Whose tears we sometimes laugh at,

And whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those
Whose nightmares come in the daytime,
Who will eat anything,
Who have never seen a dentist,
Who aren't spoiled by anybody,
Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to
sleep,

Who live and move, but have no being.

We pray for children who want to be carried
And for those who must.

For those we never give up on

And for those who don't have a second chance

For those we smother

. . . and those who will grab the hand of anybody
Kind enough to offer it.

(From a column by Ina Hughs printed in the Charlotte,
N.C., Observer on October 3, 1985, and read at the Gaston
County "State of the Child" Conference sponsored by the
Junior League of Gastonia and the N.C. Child Advocacy In-
stitute. Repnnted by permission.)

May 1986

21

I

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

It is a fact of life that all of us do not possess
the same abilities to learn. All students are,
however, expected to perform to their highest
ability academically. Some of our students'
"best" may be a "C" average; some may be
able to achieve an "A" average. Whatever the
case, his or her best is good as far as the staff is
concerned.

To help our children achieve their "best"
academically we have two on-campus tutors:
Danny Pate and Jan Kidd. The tutors are on
campus four hours, two nights a week. The tutor-
ing sessions may include a planned course of
study, use of the computer, help with their
homework or all three. All sessions last an hour,
with students getting individual help.

(CHILDREN'S HOME

Each weeknight, time is set aside for a study
hour, in which all children participate. Some of
the cottages bring all the children together at the
dining room table; others have study hour in
their individual rooms. Cottage Supervisors help
the children with their homework and check to
be sure the younger children have completed all
assignments.

Rewards and privileges are given as im-
provements are made. Participation in the

"Educational Reward Program" requires the
following: Each child should have . . .

1. Improved by at least one full grade-point average
(e.g. total of all courses should equal "C" if last
marking period for all courses equaled a "D" when
averaged), or

2. Maintained a "B" average (if not dropped from an
"A" average), or

3. Done either of the two above, with no less than a
"B" average on conduct at any time.

Educational rewards consist of such things
as a trip to eat pizza, skating, playing putt-putt,
or seeing a video. Rewards are given at the end
of each grading period.

Two children at Deans Cottage, Ericka (3rd
grade) and Martha (4th grade), have been
placed in Academically Gifted classes at Mid-
dlesex Elementary School, and a third child,
Kristy (3rd grade), has been recommended for
testing into the program. We are very proud of
these three young ladies.

In our academic program, as with our other
programs, we see each child as an individual
with his or her own abilities. We strive to teach
them that while each child has different degrees
of abilities they are special in their own way.

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

CLUB SHARES ITS
TIME AND LOVE

It was Sunday, March 23, 3
p.m., and the hunt was on. They
looked under benches, up in
trees and everywhere else they
could possibly think of to see
how many eggs they could find.
The children at Deans Cottage
enjoyed the Easter egg hunt
and refreshments provided by
Kenly Young Women's Club.
These ladies have become a
familiar and welcomed sight
around Deans Cottage.

Kenly Young Women's Club
began sponsoring Joann in
August. Since that time, they
have been faithful in visiting
with Joann both here on cam-
pus and in their own homes. In
addition, they have entertained
Joann and her friends at Deans
Cottage on several different oc-
casions.

In September, they brought
gifts and all the fixings for a
party to celebrate Joann' s
birthday. All the children en-
joyed themselves. At
Christmas time, they came up

and spent "Cottage Christmas"
night with Joann. Santa came
along to help with all the nice
gifts for her. Squeals of de-
light made him feel very wel-

i

SUMMER CAMP

It's a down-hill run for the
summer months, and camping
days are on the horizon. By
June 1, we anticipate having at
least 25 children who will be
eligible for one of three sum-
mer camps: Cragmont, Mount
Olive Basketball Camp, and
4-H Wilderness Camp. It will
cost each child approximately

come. The club provided re-
freshments for the evening.
February brought forth yet
another chance for Kenly
Young Women's Club to share
their love with Joann and
Deans Cottage. On February
13th, they visited with Joann
and the others to celebrate
Valentine's Day.

This past fall the Club held a
Tupperware party with all
orders being donated to the
Children's Home. Our cottage
supervisors have enjoyed using
the new Tupperware.

These ladies sharing their
love and time have been a
blessing to our children. We
would like to thank Kenly
Young Women's Club for all
they have done.

4

$100. Without your sponsorship,
these children will be unable to
attend. Please consider giving
a child a summer he'll always
remember. If you would like to
sponsor a child for a camp,
send your donation designated
camp sponsorship. Please con-
tact us if you need any further
information.

(Turn the Page)

May 1986

23

HELP YOUR CHILD DO WELL IN SCHOOL

Children who like school
usually do well academically.
And children who do well in
school usually like it. But how
does a parent help a child into
this happy circle? Even before
your children start school, you
can give them a strong basis for
learning. One of the most im-
portant things you can do for
your children is to read aloud to
them at an early age. En-
courage them to ask questions
about what you have read.
Also, encourage them to
discuss daily activities. Talking
about experiences helps a child
develop vocabulary and learn
about concepts— an ability that
will help your child become a
good reader. To develop math
skills early, have children
count things in the house. For

example, let them sort the
silver and count how many of
each object are in the set.

To do well in school, children
must be interested in their
work. They must see it not only
as a means to a grade, but as a
means to solving problems and
communicating ideas. It's im-
portant to make it easy for your
children to develop this in-
terest. Give them each a clear,
flat work space that is quiet and
free of distractions, where they
can think and work on assign-
ments.

Writing well calls for an abili-
ty to approach problems in an
organized way. The best way to
develop clear, effective writing
is through meaningful practice.
This means giving your child
something to write and a

reason to write it. A letter to an
out-of-town friend or relative is
a good start. Most children en-
joy sharing their thoughts and
ideas, and a letter can show
your children that writing is a
fun way of doing so. Getting
practice in writing outside the
classroom will help prepare
your children for the writing
they must do in school.

Tests are another fact of life
for school children. You can
help to reduce your children's
worries about taking tests by
encouraging them to space
studying over days or weeks.
Information learned over time
will be retained better than
that learned in one evening
"cramming." After the test,
review the results with your
children. Discuss wrong

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Through family service ministry we are offering to you audio
materials, programs and printed material available on the family
counseling, finances, etc., that may be borrowed from your child
care and family service ministries. Call or write to the Free Will
Baptist Children's Home and request the course or program you
desire and the date.

answers and make sure they
understand why their answers
were wrong.

Improving their reading,
writing, math and test-taking
skills will help your children do
better in school all-around. You
can also help them to do better
by encouraging them to pay at-
tention in class and by setting
aside a place for them to study
at home. Help your children to
believe that their efforts in
school do make a difference,
and praise them for their
achievements.

FURNITURE PROJECT

We are pleased to report on
our furniture project that
began in November '85 and
ended January '86. The local
businesses in the Wilson,
Zebulon, Bailey area con-
tributed over $5,000 to help
replace some of the furniture in
one of our cottages. We offer a
special thank you to those
businesses. The furniture is on
order and should be delivered
by May.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

The years have taken their
toll on a number of drapes in
our children's rooms. We are
asking for your help to replace
these items. We are asking for
a gift of $30 per window. We
need bath towels, wash cloths,
dish towels and pillows.

We need 24 box springs and
mattresses. The present ones
being used are extremely old
and worn out. We have con-
tracted to purchase first-line
box springs and mattresses at
$110 per set. We can accomplish
these projects with your help.

These are good projects for
Sunday School classes, Aux-
iliaries, youth groups and
Layman's Leagues. If you can
help with any of the above
items, it would greatly be ap-
preciated by the child in whose
room it would be placed.

AUDIO MATERIALS
AVAILABLE

"Upon This Foundation" Volume I
"Upon This Foundation" Volume II
A resource for the Counseling Pastor
by H. Norman Wright
"Your Finances in Changing Times"
Produced by Christian Financial Con-
cepts

"Before the Wedding Night"

Pre-marital counseling by Ed Wheat,
M.D.

"Strategies for Career Success for
Women on the Move," by Sharon
Crain, Ph.D.

PRINTED MATERIALS

— The Parent's Handbook/STEP
Systematic Training for Effective
Parenting, by Don Dinkmeyerand Gary
D. McKay

STEP/TEEN
— Systematic Training for Effective

Parenting of Teens, by Don Dinkmeyer

and Gary D. McKay
— Helping Children Manage Anger, by

Charles Confer
—Communication Skills: Effectively Ex-
pressing Your Thoughts, Feelings and

Needs, by Charles Confer
—Discipline: Defining Discipline,

Discipline Versus Punishment.

Parental Attitude, by Charles Confer
— Kids With Drinking Problems, by

Susan Bierker

We wish to take this opportunity to thank you for all your sup-
port and prayers for your child care ministry. If we can be of any
service, please contact the Free Will Baptist Children's Home,
P.O. Box 249, Middlesex, NC; or call (919) 235-2161.

May 1986

25

l
I

CRAG MONT

Psalm 121

by John R. Williams
When we think of faith in conjunction with
Cragmont, we turn to Psalm 121, which has been
a part of Cragmont for many years. The
reference to the hills by the writer of this Psalm
makes it very fitting as a Scripture of focus for
Cragmont.

In studying this Psalm, there is much to be
learned about the probable situation of the
writer. Most likely the person writing this Psalm
was making a religious pilgrimage. In the time
in which the writer lived, it took days to make
these trips, as they traveled on foot. At night they
camped along the roadside. Because they spent
the night by the side of the road in tents, they
were prime targets of thieves and robbers. To
keep away the thieves, sentries or guards were
placed around the camp to keep watch. As the
writer looks out of his tent, he sees the guard who
is there to protect him. He also sees the hills
which remind him of another Guardian who
never sleeps but always watches.

What is it that causes people to feel as they
do about the mountains? Mountains seem to
possess a power over people. Songs have been
written about them. Poetry describes their
greatness and beauty. Artists paint to capture
their greatness.

Mountains have always been places for
dramatic happenings of Bible characters. For
example, Israel established a covenant with God
and received the Ten Commandments on a
mountain. Moses spent a great deal of time with
God on a mountain. Elijah encountered the
prophets of Baal on a mountain. In the New
Testament, we remember the Mount of Olives,
the Mount of Transfiguration. Our Lord died and
gave His life on a mountain.

What is so special about mountains? They
are peaceful and suggest beauty. But for me, the
mountains suggest power. Not just any power,
but the power of God Almighty. Mountains point
us upward to God's power and might. Mountains
look powerful, majestic, bold. I think of a God
who is powerful, a God who loves and will pro-
tect—a God who is worthy of my faith.

So much of our time these days is spent on
man-made things. We are surrounded by such
things as cars, computers, VCRs, satellite
dishes, and so on, not to say that these are bad. It
is just good to retreat from these things once in a
while to the mountains that God made. These
mountains point our thoughts to Him.

Cragmont is our Free Will Baptist mountain
retreat. I am happy that we have this place

where we can take the time to be alone with
God and be reminded of a powerful God who is
worthy of our faith.

CRAGMONT CALENDAR 1986

May 19-22— General Baptist Ministers' Conference
June 2-5— Spring Limited Edition
October 13-16— Autumn Limited Edition
October 24-26— Cragmont Club Weekend Retreat

SUMMER CONFERENCES

General Youth Conference June 16-21

Rick Watson, Registrar
Route 3, Box 142-AA
Kenly, NC 27542

Christian Cadet Conference June 23-28

Bobby Taylor, Director-Registrar
Route 2, Box 40-A
Middlesex, NC 27557

Youth Frontier Conference (YFA) June 30-July 5

Scott and Janie Sowers, Directors-Registrars
Route 1, Box 106-B
Farmville, NC 27828

Youth Frontier Conference (AFC) July 8-13

Doug Skinner, Director-Registrar
Box 117

Arapahoe, NC 28510

General Youth Conference II July 14-19

Adrian Grubbs, Director-Registrar
Route 1, Box 72-A
Deep Run, NC 28525

Ministers' Conference July 21-26

Calvin Heath, Registrar
Route 5, Box 369
Mount Olive, NC 28365

Young People's Bible Conference July 29-Aug. 2

James Gurganus, Director-Registrar
Route 3, Box 64
Newport, NC 28570

Woman's Auxiliary Conference I August 4-9

Mrs. Alice Barrow, Registrar
Route 2, Box 375
Snow Hill, NC 28580

Woman's Auxiliary Conference II August 11-16

Mrs. Alice Barrow, Registrar
Route 2, Box 375
Snow Hill, NC 28580

26

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

A Day of Prayer for
All Free Will Baptists— Emphasizing
Concerts of Prayer as
Taught by David Bryant.

Date: June 3, 1986
Purpose: To pray for revival,
unity, growth and world outreach
Place: Eagles Nest
Time: 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

If you long for revival (the fullness of Christ in our church) and for fulfillment (the
preaching of the gospel of all people), then we must pray together.

Every Free Will Baptist who can possibly come should. This will be one of the most
exciting and fulfilling days of your life.

(Things to bring: Bible and a lawn chair.)

A sandwich lunch will be available at $2.

How This Day Was Conceived: On June 5, 1984, Frank Ray Harrison and Harold
Jones went before the Executive Committee of the State Convention to ask them to
lead Free Will Baptists into days of prayer for revival, unity, growth, and world
outreach. The Executive Committee agreed and appointed Harold Jones, Frank Ray
Harrison and Gary Bailey to serve on the committee to plan and implement these
days of prayer. The committee decided to wait until after the 1986 World Missions
Conference, with David Bryant, on Concerts of Prayer. This has been a two-year
delay, but during this time the stage has been set for receiving what God has for
Free Will Baptists. Let us pray together and receive.

Come join us and bring someone with you.

Sponsored by the State Convention Executive Committee.

May 1986

27

INEWS BRIEFSI

, Highway 11

Highway 11 from Greenville

Highway 42 to Ahoskie

%\ I Hospital

loskie ~~

(From Ahoskie, take Highway 561 east to
Harrellsville. Hickory Chapel Church is
located three miles from Ahoskie on the
left side of Highway 561.)

To Windsor

Highway 561 East to Harrellsville

Hickory Chapel Church

THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARIES OF THE ALBEMARLE CONFERENCE would like to
extend a cordial invitation to everyone to join them at the State Woman's Auxiliary
Convention which will be held at Hickory Chapel Church in Ahoskie on May 8. Lunch
will be catered at an approximate cost of $4.50 per plate. Those needing overnight ac-
commodations might want to stay at either the Tomahawk Motel, North Academy
Street, Ahoskie (332-3194), or at the Ramada Inn, located outside of Ahoskie on
Highway 561 west (332-4165).

Hickory Chapel is located on Highway 561 east of Ahoskie. The map above will
assist those not familiar with the area.

THE WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY
28— MARCH 2 was a special time at
Arapahoe Church. The Woman's Aux-
iliary sponsored a Missions Weekend,
during which $1,050 was raised for
Foreign Missions. On Friday night, a
movie, "The Calling," was viewed; and
special guests were Paul and Teresa
Grubbs, missionary candidates to the
Philippines. On Saturday, the members
of the church fellowshiped during a pig-
pickin' and a slide presentation of the
present missions work being done by
the denomination. The Rev. Harold
Jones, director of the Foreign Missions
program, led this service. To climax the
weekend, the Woman's Auxiliary led the
Sunday morning worship service, bring-
ing to all a clearer realization of the role
each Christian plays in missions.

THE PIEDMONT CONFERENCE met
with House of Prayer Church,
Kernersville, on March 29. The pastor,
the Rev. Mrs. Carlee Stallard, gave a
hearty welcome.

The Ordaining Council reported that
permission has been given to the Rev.
Bobby Parker to keep his original ordina-
tion papers, so long as he attaches his

credentials from the Conference to
them. The Rev. Gordon Massey has been
cleared to work with the Rev. George
Greene at Northside Church, pending
clearance from his Conference. The Rev.
Danny Hanks asked that his name be
dropped from the list of ordained
ministers, and he has been asked to for-
ward his credentials. The Rev. Charles
Crisp was cleared to pastor East Rock-
ingham Church and his membership in
the Conference is pending a letter from
the Western Conference. The Rev. Mrs.
Doris Pinyan came before the Con-
ference to be ordained and was given a
good report.

The next Union Meeting of the Con-
ference will be on June 28, at Good News
Church, in East Rockingham.

THE STATE LAYMAN'S LEAGUE
SPIRITUAL LIFE RETREAT will be held
June 7, at Eagles' Nest Conference
Center, Mount Olive, North Carolina. The
day will begin with silent prayer at 9 a.m.
The Rev. Wayne King will lead the first
session, which is entitled, "The Bible
and Spiritual Growth." This session
begins at 9:05. The second session, led
by the Rev. Frank Ray Harrison, is on
"The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Growth." A

break has been scheduled from 10:30 to
1 1 , and it is to be followed by an hour of
recreation. Lunch is at noon. The Rev.
Ray Williamson will lead session three,
"Worship and Spiritual Growth." This
session begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 2; a
thirty-minute break follows. A Bible
study and time of prayer will follow,
under the direction of the Rev. Frank Ray
Harrison at 2:30. At 3:30, the Rev. Lloyd
Hargis will lead in a time of sharing and
testimony.

Each participant is asked to read Out
of Solitude — Three Meditations on the
Christian Life, written by J. M. Nouwen,
prior to the retreat. (This book is
available through Mount Olive College or
the Free Will Baptist Press.)

In order for the College to know how
to plan for lunch and overnight accom-
modations, each person planning to at-
tend is asked to register by May 30.
(Checks for overnight accommodations
should be made payable to the State
Layman's League Convention.) Register
by sending your name, address, city,
state, zip, church name, conference, and
home telephone number to Mr. Floyd
Newsome, Route 5, Box 256, Wilson, NC
27893. You need to also indicate whether
or not you intend to attend the retreat on
June 7, eat lunch at Eagles' Nest, and
spend the night on Friday, June 6 ($5).
The cost of lunch on Saturday is $5. If
you plan to spend the night, bring your
sleeping bag, or whatever else you will
need to stay overnight. Bibles will be
needed on Saturday.

For additional information, contact
the Rev. Frank Ray Harrison, phone
658-2502 (office) or 658-9363; or Mr.
Floyd Newsome, phone 239-1175.

THE CAPE FEAR YOUTH FELLOW-
SHIP held its spring convention at Tee's
Chapel Church. Haymount Church won
the youth banner with 21 attending, and
the overall banner was received by River-
side Church, with a total attendance of
40. The ten churches present boasted a
total attendance of 233.

The following young people won the
various competitions: Arts and Crafts:
Cherubs, first place, Leslie Martin, River-
side Church; second place— Mark
Worley, Shady Grove; third
place— Christopher Wiggins, Haymount
Church; AFC, first place— Paul Worley,
Shady Grove Church; second place, Ed-
die Mason, Genesis Mission; third
place— Carol Jean Surles, Shady Grove
Church; YFA, first place— Janet Corbett,
Tee's Chapel Church; second place,
Christie Godby, Genesis Mission; third
place, Anita Scarborough, Shady Grove
Church; Christian Writing, Christa Kuhn,
Haymount Church; Lesson Presentation,
Carl Hayes, Tee's Chapel Church.

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

THE 1986 SESSION OF THE
GENERAL CONFERENCE will be held at
Beaverdam Church, Chadbourn, NC,
June 23-24.

Churches are requested to send their
pastor as well as delegates for a time of
spiritual enlightenment and fellowship.

The scheduled program is as follows:

MONDAY
6:00— Registration
6:30— Special Music
7:00— Call to Order, the Rev. Harry
Jones, president
—Appointment of Committees
—Welcome, the Rev. Jackie God-
win, host pastor
—Response, the Rev. Mike Scott
—Youth Program and Activities
— Evening Sermon, the Rev. Tom

Price
—Altar Call

—Congregational Singing
—Prayer

TUESDAY
9:00— Registration Continued
9:15— Welcome and Special Music
9:20— Woman's Auxiliary Program
12:00— Lunch and Fellowship (Lunch
will be provided by the host
church)

2:00— Preaching and Fellowship, the
Rev. Stanley Buck, speaker
— Congregational Singing and
Special Music
3:00— The Rev. Joe Griffith, speaker
—Congregational Singing and
Special Music

— Recess

6:30— Business Session

7:00— Preaching and Fellowship, the

Rev. Jackie Godwin, speaker
—Congregational Singing and

Special Music

— Recess

8:00— The Rev. W. S. Burns, speaker
—Congregational Singing and

Special Music
—Adjournment

The directions to the church are as
follows: Take Highway 701 south of
Whiteville approximately eight miles. A
church sign will direct you to turn right;
then go approximately 1 % miles.

Those wanting to spend the night will
find the following motels in the area:

Holiday Motel, Highway 701 North,
Whiteville; phone, 642-5162

8esf Western Premiere Inn, 701
Bypass, Whiteville; phone, 642-2378

Chadbourn Motel, Strawberry
Boulevard; phone, 654-3247

El Rancho Motel, Highway 701 North,
Tabor City; phone 653-3169

THE CENTRAL DISTRICT YOUTH FELLOWSHIP held its spring meeting at
Marlboro Church, Farmville, in March. Nearly two hundred and fifty young people and
their sponsors joined together in an activity-filled day, during which competitions took
place. Pictured below are winners in the various categories of competition.

AFC Arts and Crafts Winners

YFA Arts and Crafts Winners

(Turn the Page)

May 1986

29

NEWS BRIEFSI

Bible Bowl Winners
(Not Pictured: Christian Writing Winners)

PLEASANT HILL CHURCH, Route 2, Pikeville, experienced a momentous occa-
sion on January 5. It was on that day that the church parsonage was dedicated and a
copy of the mortgage burned.

The parsonage was built in 1977; the Rev. Luther Swinson was the first pastor to
reside therein.

Shown in the picture are the treasurer of the church, Mrs. Marjorie Snipes, along
with the present deacon board and those who were serving in 1977. The Rev. Henry
Armstrong, pastor, is also shown.

The church members are happy to have the debt retired and give the glory to God.

Editor's Note: Our apologies to the congregation of Pleasant Hill Church. This article was inadvertently run in the
last issue with the name of the church being given incorrectly.

THE CONGREGATION OF
MARLBORO CHURCH, Route 1, Farm-
ville, will celebrate Heritage Day on Sun-
day, May 4. The traditions of days gone
by will be observed throughout the day,
which will begin with Sunday School at
9:45 a.m. Morning worship will be held
outside. Lunch will be prepared by the
men of the church, a la washpot; and the
dress for the day is old-fashioned. The
pastor and congregation cordially invite
everyone to join them for this special
day.

MARLBORO CHURCH, Route 1, Farm-
ville, has scheduled a series of revival
services for May 5-9. The pastor, the Rev.
Scott Sowers, will deliver the message
each evening. Special music will be
highlighted throughout the services,
which will begin nightly at 7:30. Everyone
is cordially invited to attend.

THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE
LAYMAN'S LEAGUE CONVENTION will
be held at Bethany Church, near Winter-
ville, on May 16. The meeting is sched-
uled to begin at 7:30 p.m. All laymen are
encouraged to attend this Convention.

THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY OF
CASEY'S CHAPEL CHURCH, Goldsboro,
will sponsor a ladies retreat to be held
May 16-17. Registration will begin at 5
p.m. on Friday, followed by a light meal.
The retreat will conclude on Saturday
between 1-2 p.m.

Miss Rudene Kennedy will be the
guest speaker. She will bring messages
concerning "The Christ-like Woman,"
the theme of the retreat.

The charge for the retreat is $10.
Ladies are encouraged to pre-register on
or before May 10. To do so, they should
write to the following address: Casey's
Chapel Woman's Auxiliary, Route 9, Box
221-A, Goldsboro, NC 27530; or call
Jackie Barnard, 778-6909. (Please send
checks only, no cash.) Meals will be pro-
vided.

Accommodations will be at the
church, "slumber-party style." Please
bring your own sleeping bag, cot, quilt,
and so on, for sleeping.

Casey's Chapel is located about five
miles east of Goldsboro on Highway 70.

SPEAKERS AVAILABLE

The Rev. Charlie Bryant is available for
fill-in pastoral services. Even though his
calling is to shut-ins, he is able to assist
churches and pastors when needed.
Those wishing to contact him can do so
by writing to him at Route 1, Lucama,
NC; or by phoning 284-3665.

Gary R. Burbage is available to all Free
Will Baptist Churches as a lay speaker.
Gary is superintendent of the Sunday
School program at Sidney Church,
Albemarle Conference. He is also

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

presently serving as the President of the
Albemarle Sunday School Convention
and is on the State Sunday School Con-
vention Executive Committee.

Any church having need of supply
work through this lay ministry may write
or call: Gary Burbage, Route 1, Box 254,
Bath, NC 27808; 964-4429.

ADOPTION DENIED COUPLE
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH

Liberty magazine recently carried a
story about a couple in the Los Angeles
area who wanted to adopt a 14-year-old
girl. The girl's father had committed
adultery and a divorce resulted. The
young girl did not want to live with either
her mother or father and ran away from
home. She became a ward of the court
and ended up in the home of the couple
who wanted to adopt her.

When the couple told the girl they
wanted to adopt her, she put her arms
around them and told them how much
she wanted to live with them. Both
parents of the girl agreed to the adop-
tion, but her mother later changed her
mind, stating that adoption would make
it "too easy for her father. He should
have to pay for what he did."

When the case came to court, the
judge told the prospective parents that
he had already had a change in mind.

"But," the couple's attorney pleaded,
"the case has not been heard." The
judge was adamant. Their petition for the
girl was denied.

A few days later, the couple received a
letter from the judge, telling them why
he had decided against them, even
without hearing the case. Their home,
the judge said, was "too religious."
Neither the judge nor the case worker
ever visited the home. They had asked no
questions concerning their religious
beliefs. They only knew that the prospec-
tive parents took their Christian faith
seriously and that was, in the opinion of
the judge and case worker, enough to
disqualify the couple as adoptive
parents!

FOLKSTONE CHURCH HONORS SENIOR CITIZENS— Pictured with the Rev. Ronnie
Parker are senior citizens from Folkstone Church, who were being honored. Each
senior adult was presented a corsage or boutonniere upon arrival and was then
escorted to a reserved section, where they could easily observe the special service be-
ing presented in their honor. A covered-dish dinner followed in the church fellowship
hall.

THE YOUTH OF SNEADS FERRY CHURCH participated in the Bike-A-Thon for the
Leukemia Society which was held on Saturday, April 5, and the youth group with their
leader, Gary Parrish, had ten and an alternate as participants.

The team was not only able to raise $1,357.85, but they also came in as first,
second, and third place finishers on the twenty-mile ride, plus winning the trophy for
the individual collecting the most funds. First place went to Nathan Turner, second
place to Ronnie Allen, and third place to Gary Parrish, who also received another
trophy for the most money raised, a total of $505. Special award as novice rider was
given to eight-year-old Bianca Parrish, who was not only the youngest participant but
also the one who rode three miles over the required amount.

The following is a list of the participants and the amount of money donated by
their sponsors:

Gary Parrish
Bianca Parrish
Carla Allen
Sondra Allen
Dwayne Turner
Ronnie Allen

$505.00 Jeremy Lucas

126.00 (Alternate, Orlando Powell)

113.00 Frankie Turner

110.00 Nathan Turner

106.25 Jason Frye

100.00 Travis Turner

71.00

53.85
38.25
17.60
17.00

The Lord blessed with a beautiful day for the bike ride, with sunny skies and a
light breeze to make it comfortable for the outing. But more than this, He has blessed
the church with youth who have beautiful hearts willing to give of their time and efforts
for others.

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states,
$8.50, $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches.
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board ol Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Robert Hadden, Production Manager; Janie Jones Sowers,
Editor of Literature.

May 1986

STATE YOUTH
CONVENTION

MAY 16-18, 1986

OF THE
FAITH

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 16

5:00 P.M.

6:00 P.M.
5:00-6:30 P.M.

6:30 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

8:00 P.M.
9:30 P.M.

10:15—10:45 P.M.

Registration— College
Hall

Supper— New Campus

Registration of Arts
and Crafts— Col-
lege Hall,
Classroom B

Practice for Talent
Show— College Hall
(Auditorium Open
Only to Talent
Show Participants,
6:30-7:45 p.m.)

Choir Practice for
Youth Convention
Choir

Judging of Arts and
Crafts (Judges
Only)

Talent Competition

Vespers: YFA— Outside
Library ; AFC—
Outside Chapel; Bi-
ble Bowl Con-
testants and
Coache s — Colle ge
Hall

Refreshment Break

SATURDAY, MAY 17

7:30 A.M.

8:00 A.M.

8:30 A.M.

9:00-10:00 A.M.

10

00

A.M.

10

30

A.M.

11

00

A.M.

-1

00

P.M.

12

00

P.M.

1

00

P.M.

Breakfast— Downtown
Campus

Breakfast Meeting for
Bible Bowl
Judges— Place TBA

Breakfast Meeting
for Candidates—
Place TBA

Registration at College
Hall for Those Not
Yet Registered

Business Session for
Campaign
Speeches— College
Hall (Polls Open 10
A.M.-l P.M.)

Bible Bowl Competi-
tion*

Public Speaking*

Lesson Presentation

Cragmont Slides

Lunch

District First Place
Winner's Luncheon

Registration for Those
Not Yet
Registered-
College Hall

(Turn the Page)

32

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

1

30 P

M.

3:00-3

30 P

M.

3

30 P

M.

B°D 9:30 P. M

10:15-10:45 P.M.
SUNDAY, MAY 18

8:00 A.M

1:30 P.M. Afternoon Business Ses-
sion— Installment
of Officers Im-
mediately Follow-
ing—College Hall
Adult Seminar— Chapel
Refreshment Break
Recreation Time ( Soft-
ball, Kickball, Ten-
nis, Basketball Will
Be Available as
Well as Special Ac-
tivities for
Cherubs)
Choir Practice
Supper— New Campus
Awards Presenta-
tion—College Hall
8:00 P.M. Evening Program—
WRAL Radio Personality
Famous Bob Inskeep

WRAL-FM101

North •CaroIMs'ClaS^fM

4:45 P.M.
5:30 P.M.
7:00 P.M.

Vespers: YFA— Outside

Library ;

AFC— Outside

Chapel
Refreshment Break

Breakfast— Downtown
Campus

10:00 A.M. Morning Worship—
Rodgers Chapel

General Information

Cost of meals provided by Mount Olive College
Cafeteria will be $2, breakfast; and $2.75,
lunch and supper.

Cost of lodging overnight will be $8 per person
per night.

The College will furnish linens, bath cloths,

towels, and soap.
Guests must bring their own pillows, blankets,

money for meals and snacks, Bible,

notebook and pencil, and casual clothes for

the weekend.
The Free Will Baptist Press and Mount Olive

College bookstores will be open on Saturday.
Rooms will be assigned in order as registration

forms are received (first received, first

served).

Money for lodging should be sent with a $20
registration fee (per church) by May 1, 1985.

Money for meals will be collected at the time of
the meal.

REGISTRATION FORM

Name of Church_
Address

Please give address and phone number of person we may
contact to answer questions about your group's registra-
tion:

Name

Address

Phone Number

Names of adults supervising young people staying overnight
at the Convention (at least one adult male and one adult
female) :

Total number of youth and adults lodging overnight:

Friday

Males (12 and under)
Males (13 and up)
Females (12 and under).
Females (13 and up)

Total x

Total

Saturday Total x $8 Total

Males (12 and under)

Males ( 13 and up )

Females (12 and under)

Females (13 and up) .

Registration fee (per church)
Total amount enclosed

$20.00

Total number of youth and adults eating meals pro-
vided by MOC cafeteria.

Friday Saturday Sunday

Breakfast

Lunch

Supper

•No meals served at this time

Registration forms, along with lodging money
and registration fee, should be sent to:

Joan Little
Route 2, Box 347-C
Farmville, NC 27828
Phone: (919) 753-3217

May 1986

33

damfi cLncLsmEiE
oman d donfs

r£%ZnC£

THEME: DISCIPLESHIP
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Matthew 16:24

June 16-20, 1986
Check in time: Monday, 10 A.M.
Check out time: Friday, 10 A.M.

The time for Christian camping is soon upon us. We want to invite you to make plans to join us
at this year's Camp Vandemere Woman's Conference. Our theme will be "DISCIPLESHIP."

Each auxiliary is urged to elect a Woman of the Year and to send her to camp. (Each Woman of
the Year will be honored during a special service on Monday night. Women of the Year not present at
that time are honored when they come as a Day Camper. If your Woman of the Year can not come to
camp, send her letter of recognition and she will be recognized.)

Camp fees are $55 for the week. Pre-registration is $10, with $45 due on arrival. The additional $5
increase is an activity fee approved by the Camp Vandemere Board for all camp weeks. Send registra-
tions and pre-registration fees to Cathy Crumpler, Route 2, Box 293-A, Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365. Phone (919) 568-3758 if you have any questions.

We hope you can come for the entire week. If not we would love to have you as a Day Camper.
We have an exciting program planned with Bible study, music, items of denominational interest, and
lots of fun! Missions day will be on Thursday as it has been in the past. We will also have our newest
missionary candidates with us on Wednesday evening, Paul and Teresa Grubbs. Come and join in the
fellowship of Christian camping.

Hoping to see you in June,
Cathy Wallace Crumpler, Director/Registrar

REGISTRATION FORM FOR 1986 CAMP VANDEMERE WOMAN'S CONFERENCE

NAME

ADDRESS

CHURCH AND CONFERENCE

AGE PHONE

DAY CAMPERS ONLY

NAME

CHURCH AND CONFERENCE

DAY PLANNING TO ATTEND M T W TH (circle please)

34

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL

There's No
Boom for Flab

Get up and get out of that easy chair! To
whom am I speaking? You, of course. It's time
for you to flex those spiritual muscles. Are you
ready? You're not? Why? Where has your will-
ingness to be instant in season and out of season
gone? And lest you forget, this is the time. But
for some of us, I must admit, rationalizing the
Great Commission has led to spiritual flab-
biness.

Some of us say we are too shy. Others claim
that religion is a very personal thing and that we
should not force our opinions on others. But who
said anything about forcing opinions? Witness-
ing is a way of life ; it calls for us to get others to
thinking. And then there are those who say that
someone else will take care of it— it's not my job.
That's no excuse, for we have all been called to
be witnesses unto Christ Jesus.

Tired? That's no excuse either, for it is when
we realize our limitations (and being tired is
definitely a limitation) that we are readier to
submit to the Spirit.

And don't say you have other things to do
right now. It is my opinion that we find the time
to do the things we want to do (we find the money
to buy the things we want)— it is God and His
work that we usually do not find the time (and
money) for.

What does spiritual flabbiness cost? Well,
read on ... .

Weeks become months. Months pass into
quarters and eventually years. Still, there are no
conversions, no additions to the church. The peo-
ple become content to just sit and listen— totally
unmoved by the minister's exhortations "to
abound in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians
15:58). No one witnesses to his neighbors. Only a
handful of the congregation attend the weekly
prayer meeting. Fewer still are at Bible
study— the majority of those who do go are older
ladies. The deacons, the men, the Sunday School
teachers find other things to be more important.
Many feel that they can "worship" just as well
somewhere else— on the golf course or at the
beach.

Sound familiar? I'm sure it does; this situa-
tion is all too familiar for some of us, for many

seem to be suffering from a fatal case of
something akin to apathy; but then again, it real-
ly resembles a lack of dedication and commit-
ment. What are the symptoms? They can be seen
in Romans 7:15, 19— "For that what I do I allow
not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I
hate, that do I . . . For the good that I would I do
not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

Since Christians come in all shapes and
sizes, and since we are a varied lot; there are
characteristics about us all that should be
similar. Christ should not only be our Saviour,
He should be our Lord; we should love others and
be consistent with what we "preach." The
Gospel writer Matthew speaks of us being
"salt," but I must say that many have lost their
savor. No longer are we as a body typically
"flavor enhancers." This says a lot, for when He
reigns, our love pours!

This plague, this apathy, this flabbiness, is
haunting us to the extent that denominational
leaders are kept awake at night. I must ask
where our concern and victory have gone. Have
we forgotten that we can live triumphant Chris-
tian lives? (That we should?) Maybe some
pastors need to realize that they cannot solve
their parishioners' problems until they learn to
solve their own. If the shepherd is not growing
and living in victory, his congregation stands
less chance of doing so. He can't expect those he
leads to visit if he does not; he can't expect them
to go into the fields unless he has shown them
how. He must love if they are to know how to
love. Pastors often exhort, plead, and beg their
members to work— never telling them how. It is
time that we all submit to the will of the Lord; it
is time that we agree to a marriage of our hearts
and lives and lips.

You and I need to realize that we are in a
race and that we must finish the course. Our
fight will not always be easy, but we have the
assurance that "greater is he that is in you than
he that is in the world' ' ( 1 John 4:4). Yes, there is
evil in the world, but we have the advantage ; we
have God!

Brothers and sisters, we need not quit— we
must not.

Let's run the race . . . together.

May 1986

35

FATAL

PHHIPF

Johi\ Q. Baucom

Teenage suicide is not a pleasant
subject. Neither are the results of shoving
it under the rug and hoping the problem
will go away.

Approximately 2,000,000 people bet-
ween the ages of thirteen and nineteen at-
tempt suicide each year, according to the
National Youth Suicide Center in
Washington, D.C. Of that number, 6,000
will succeed.

Since 1970, suicide has increased
from the fifth leading cause of death
among teenagers to the second.

John Baucom recognizes this grow-
ing epidemic. He blends material from his
personal life, academic training, and pro-
fessional experience to form an educated
and spellbinding look at the complex
problem.

Fatal Choice is intended for parents,
teachers, counselors, or friends of an
adolescent. It shows how to respond con-
structively to any adolescent and to
troubled adolescents in particular.

Questions and exercises at the end
of each chapter will stimulate thought,
reflection, and discussion.

The rise in adolescent suicide
necessitates such a book. Read it. Study
$10.95 And most important, be responsive to
danger signals given off by troubled
teenagers.

Available through the Free Will Baptist
Press and the branch stores in New Bern,
Wilson, and Kinston.

36

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The Free Will

BAPTIST

3

Parenting by Example: Exciting—

by Marti Garlett

June, 1986; Vol. 101, No. 6
-But Unnoisy Christianity

7

If He Asks for a Scorpion

by Stan Mooneyham

8

It's Me, It's Me, It's Me, O Lord

by Stan Mooneyham

10

Christian Camping: The Summer Alternative

by Janie Jones Sowers

11

The Dream Becomes Reality

by Patti O'Donoghue

DEPARTMENTS

12 Sunday School Convention
14 Mount Olive College
16 Cragmont

20
22
24
32

Children's Home
Foreign Missions
Home Missions
News Briefs

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The "practice what you
preach" maxim is not new. It
has been around a long time, at
least since 1744 when Dr. John
Armstrong penned:

Of right and wrong he taught
Truths as refin'd as ever Athens
heard;

And (strange to tell!) he practic'd
what he preached.

PARENTING BY SHOWING: EXCITING-BUT UNNOISY CHRISTIANITY

by Dr. Marti Garlett

Children are silent but very
watchful observers of what we
do. Their wide eyes seem like
windows into their souls— and
maybe into ours. Truly,
children are "God's spies."
Coming in innocence as the
"least" of us, children, it could
be said, "spy" on what we do.
In fact, observing us is the
largest part of what children
retain about acceptable at-
titudes and behaviors.
Whatever they see us doing,
they assume is all right for
them too. What they see us do is
what they will assimilate as im-
portant values for their own
lives. "As adults, we are simply
unaware of the many, many
messages we send," writes
Charles Galloway. "And
sometimes it's what we don't do

Unannounced Christianity, or
Christian modeling, can be
very loud indeed. It can have a
lasting impact. When we meet
someone who demonstrates
comfort with his or her own
humanness, we long for com-
fort with ours. Poet Mary Jane
Hoberman phrased it accurate-
ly: "I know what I feel like; I'd
like to be you. "

that counts the most." We may
very well be entrapping our
children's futures in the ex-
periences we provide for them
now.

"Be careful," we admonish
our teenager as he or she leaves
the house with the car keys. Yet
the same teen has been our
passenger for years when we
have exceeded the speed limit
or crept through stop signs
without coming to a complete
halt, when we have railed aloud
at the antics of a passing
motorist who annoyed us, and
when we have maybe even
taken unjustified risks with the
entire family's lives in our urge
to "get" someplace. Which
message will be retained, the
verbal or the nonverbal?
(Turn the Page)

June 1986

3

The verse "Train a child in
the way he should go, and when
he is old he will not turn from
it" (Proverbs 22:6, NIV) is the
Scripture most frequently cited
as backup for whatever edicts
we hand down to children.

God provided Jesus as the
conjunction between His words
(i.e., "I love you") and His
deeds (i.e., "here's my Son to
prove it"). Christ is the
archtype of training, the stan-
dard, the ideal. Through His
Son, God answered the question
of what training is : It is model-
ing. Jesus underscored all that
He said, making His words one
long italicized proclamation. It
is unlikely we would marvel at
His words if He had not so
perfectly used His actions as
convincement. What captivates
our attention is the fact that He
did not so much talk about an
amazing life as live one. Taking
ordinary people as His closest
friends, going to the homes of
despised people and eating with
them, dying on a Cross like a
common thief when He literally
had all the power in the world to
save Himself— these are the ac-
tions from Christ's life that
make us sit up and take notice.
Through Christ's astonishing
messages in motion we are
enabled to learn.

Jesus is our model for model-
ing.

When we examine His life as
a human being, the first
characteristic we see is Jesus'
spontaneity. He was not tied to
traditional ways of doing
things. He was not concerned
with impressing others. He
washed the disciples' feet in-
stead of having them wash His,
even though He was their
master. He struck up a forbid-
den conversation with a
Samaritan woman at a well.
His close friendships included
several women, a shocking de-
fiance of the conventions of his

day. He had the ability to be
spontaneous and at ease in a
variety of situations.

A second characteristic is
Jesus' respect for diversity. He
demonstrated freedom from
prejudice and jealousy. He sur- .
rounded Himself with all man-
ner of people — respectable
women, "fallen" women,
lepers, detested tax collectors,
rich men, poor men, working
men, indigent men. He
befriended Jews and Gentiles
alike, no matter their class, no
matter their background. By
being "better" than no one, He
modeled acceptance of us all.

Third, we can see Christ's
sense of humor and His ability
to enjoy Himself. His parables
contained "humorous" illustra-
tions: a camel going through
the eye of a needle, tax collec-
tors getting into Heaven ahead
of priests. Jesus was a very
social man who enjoyed being
in the company of people so
much throughout His life that
His enemies accused Him of be-
ing a drunkard and a glutton
(Matthew 11:19). Until Jesus
changed the image, the pattern
of social denial chosen by John
the Baptist had been the stan-
dard by which religious devo-
tion was judged.

Through a fourth character-
istic, we discover Jesus'
recognition of the need for
privacy, for solitude, for oppor-
tunities to be by Himself and
see His life from a con-
templative perspective. This,
too, must be a model for full
humanness, since it was impor-
tant to Christ. The Gospel of
Mark, for example, records
twelve separate times when
Jesus chose to get away by
Himself. Anne Morrow Lind-
berg said of solitude that "there
is a quality to being alone that
is incredibly precious. Life
rushes back into the void,
richer, more vivid, fuller than

before . . . you are whole again,
complete and round— more
whole, even, than before, when
other people had pieces of
you." Jesus modeled what she
was talking about.

Jesus was creative. His in-
ventiveness is a fifth
characteristic. Nearly every-
thing He did spoke to His
fascinating aptitude for coming
up with new ways of doing
things. Why press grapes when
water can become wine? Why
pack sack lunches when two
fish and five loaves will feed
thousands? Why live like a rich
ruler when there is simple joy
in planing wood in a carpen-
ter's shop? Why tell people who
you are when you can let them
see it? There is no doubt that
Jesus' imagination was active
and delightful. Scripture is
replete with accounts of it.

Despite Jesus' creative ap-
proach to problem solving, He
respected life's complexities
and did not intimate there are
simple solutions to difficult
questions. This is a sixth
characteristic He modeled
throughout His life. There are
no neat categories for fitting
things into. Life is not a matter
of following a set of prescribed
rules— this makes you right,
that makes you wrong. Peter, a
beloved disciple, crumpled
under stress and denied he even
knew Jesus, much less that
they were friends. Peter, the
Rock, was weak and faithless.
Yet Jesus reinstated Peter. It
was not a situation which could
be viewed in simple black and
white terms: Now you're good,
now you're bad.

The parable illustrates a
seventh fascinating aspect of
Jesus' human character too;
He was a marvelous
storyteller. His goal for us was
to learn from the stories, of
course, but that did not lessen
His enjoyment in their telling.

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

He seemed to delight in the act
of teaching as much as He
looked forward to its outcome.

As parents, focusing on
Christ, we can utilize the
resources of our model. He is
the backbone, the giver of
energy and sustainer of com-
mitment, the role model for
role modeling.

How can I be a model?

We have looked at seven im-
portant qualities of Jesus that
serve as our model for model-
ing. Understanding and
knowing these qualities is im-
portant; it is equally important
to see how they can stretch into
actual family settings where
they will contribute to our
children's lives.

Jesus modeled spontaneity.

You can model spontaneity to
your children by stopping the
car along the roadside if you
spy a deer, or to climb a ridge
just to discover what's on the
other side. You can drive down
a dirt road off the beaten path
in order to satisfy your
children's curiosity about
where it goes. You can stand in
the backyard with your
children, marveling together at
magnificent cloud patterns.
You can get up and go to the
end of the porch to devour the
glory of a sunset with your
child, as my son suggested I do
one night. "Come here, Mom,"
he said. "I want to show you
something." I'm so glad I
didn't say, "In a minute, Kyle."
The sunset would have been
gone by then. And if a child, ex-
pecting to elicit a promise for
the future, says, "Hey,
wouldn't it be fun to make
chocolate chip cookies [or pop-
corn or something else deli-
cious]?" You have an op-
portunity to do something
wonderful. You have an oppor-
tunity to say, "It sure would.
Let's do it right now, shall we?"

Jesus modeled an appreciation
for diversity.

In part parents are given the
gift of years in order to expose
their children to all the variety
available in the world. We must
not involve ourselves and our
children only in sports or music
or some other single ex-
perience. We should go as a
family to sporting events, to or-
chestras and even to operas, to
jazz concerts and other musical
"happenings," to legitimate
(or live) theater performances,
to museums and zoos and
amusement parks. We should
go to botanical gardens, walk in
forests, go on picnics and eat in
restaurants. We should camp
sometimes and other times
stay in motels, alternately visit
cities and farms. We should
marvel at wheat fields and ar-
chitectural wonders. We should
taste ethnic foods, invite guests
into our home, and walk in
neighborhoods that contain the
rhythm of tongues other than
our own. We should read aloud
books that represent many
authors and many styles, in-
cluding fantasy, mystery,
humor and poetry. I haven't
even begun to tap all the things
parents can do with their
children to model an apprecia-
tion for diversity. What an
adventure Christ modeled for
us!

Jesus modeled a sense of
humor.

Let's qualify right now what
we mean by a sense of humor.
It is not having an arsenal of
stand-up jokes. It is not being a
comedian. It is, instead, an
ability not to take ourselves too
seriously, to look at situations
as being slightly humorous and
sometimes even bizarre. It is
best characterized by having a
lightness of touch. It is what
keeps us from being depressed
by events that we can't control.

It also shows children that we
not only love them, we actually
like them. They discover
through us that they are en-
joyable humans. We show them
that being with them is a
pleasure, that their presence
keeps us from being stodgy
adults. Some of the demonstra-
tions of this are found in an
ability to laugh at ourselves in
front of our children, to chuckle
at our own foibles and
malapropisms.

We should share incidents
from our own childhood, and we
should invest a great deal of
energy into creating some
special, humorous memories
for them to take from their
childhoods. Memories are such
an important part of family
life! We can play games (like
charades) that lend themselves
to hilarity, we can affix notes
under the toilet seat lid, and if
we are, say, in the midst of a
musical disagreement with our
children (their music vs. ours),
we can hook up a timer to a
tape recorder that is set to
blare "our" music loudly into
our children's bedrooms in the
middle of the night. Finding
times to be human and real and
to laugh together builds
marvelous ties that bind. And if
our children get back at us for
doing something like this, we
had better remember to keep
hold of that sense of humor.
Jesus modeled the benefits of
solitude.

There are two parts to this
that parents need to under-
stand. One of them is providing
a private place that is in-
violable where children can go,
knowing it is theirs and theirs
alone. This might be a room of
their own that no one else can
enter without first requesting
permission, or it might be
another type of getaway. It
might, for instance, be a bean
bag chair behind a screen in the
(Turn the Page)

June 1986

5

basement, or it might be a
carpeted place under a blanket
draped over two chairs, or (as
it was in our son Marc's case) it
might be a three-legged stool
tucked in the backyard between
a thick bush and a high wooden
fence.

The second part is particular-
ly important for families with
two or more children, but even
those with an only child must
not be overlooked. Every child
needs a one-on-one time with
each parent. These private
moments can be arranged
through a weekly lunch date
(pick them up at school and
take them out to lunch with you,
as you would any other lun-
cheon partner) or even a time
of playing basketball together
on the driveway. It can be just
the two of you cooking, or
whatever it is that both of you
find especially enjoyable. But
structure these one-on-one
times, and leave the agenda
open-ended. As your relation-
ship grows, trust will develop
and communication will begin
to flourish naturally, but please
don't force it. Just be available
and consistent in your commit-
ment to your child.

Jesus modeled joy in creativi-
ty.

Celebrating together can be a
marvelous avenue for family
ingenuity. In our family, we
have a long-time tradition of
sitting on the floor for a picnic
under the Christmas tree on
Christmas Eve. The menu is
simple: hamburgers and egg
nog, with (What else?) angel
food cake for dessert. This pic-
nic is a time of carol singing
and laughter and, most impor-
tantly, of recognizing the Christ
Child. Indeed, we call it our
birthday party for Jesus. It
always ends with the tradi-
tional singing of "Happy birth-
day, dear Jesus, happy birth-
day to you!" Even when there

are no young children in the
family, this annual celebration,
now in its third generation, has
endured.

Another family I know
models joy in creativity by
"dressing" for dinner on Sun-
day evening throughout the
wintertime, using good china
and crystal and generally mak-
ing every Sunday evening a
special event in their home.
Another sets Sunday evening
aside for salami, cheese, fruit
and game-playing. There is joy
and closeness to be found in
creating unique family times.
Find a way to fit such times into
your family schedule.

Jesus modeled a respect for
complexity.

One brother wants to play
ball, the other wants to read a
book. One sister busies herself
with dreams and dolls, the
other with the telephone. Fami-
ly misunderstandings constant-
ly arise out of finger-pointing
and scorn for another's
behavior. Who is a "wimp,"
and who is macho? Who is a
"nerd," and who is cool and
classy? Much of the energy of
parenting is drained away
through helping the siblings
within a family understand
what each other's inner world
holds. Parents, like Christ,
must over and over
demonstrate that there is much
more going on than what is seen
on the surface, that human be-
ings are complex and
multifaceted, that if someone
wants to be left alone right now,
he or she might very well be
ready to be companionable
later. It is all right to be dif-
ferent from other people, and
even different from what you
yourself ordinarily are.

No easy judgments can be
made, because difficult issues
don't lend themselves to sim-
ple, pat answers. Parents, in

this regard, must be very
aware of what they, too, say at
home about the behavior of
others. Feelings are not wrong,
so feeling frustrated with
someone at church or at work
has no morality attached to it.
But if we start acting on those
frustrations, even though in the
privacy of our homes, we can
be certain our children will too.
Critical, condemning children
often learn their lack of
tolerance by listening to it at
home. Christ, of course,
modeled just the opposite.

Jesus modeled a delight in the
act of teaching.

Helping our children with
homework, or with the best way
to mend a shirt, or with how to
hold a golf club, need not be a
chore. In fact, it should be a
delight. Even if they never
become very proficient at what
we are helping to teach them,
our children can gain much,
and so can we, by the time we
spend together. Sometimes
when one of my children says,
"You don't have to help me
with my paper, Mom," I say,
"But I want to!" Then, of
course, I'm obliged to couple
my actions with my words and
behave in ways compatible
with saying, "I want to." I have
to act like it's fun, and you
know what? The more I act like
it's fun, the more fun it actually
becomes. When the children
were small, I read aloud to
them in the car to keep them oc- j
cupied on long trips.

As the years went by and they j
became capable of occupying
themselves, I found none of us
really wanted to give up these
reading aloud times, me least
of all. So today, with my sons
eighteen and fourteen, I still
read aloud as we travel. This
past summer we all absorbed
Harper Lee's classic story, To
Kill a Mockingbird.

—Used by permission.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

IF HE ASKS FOR A SCORPION

by Stan Mooneyham

In the church service we had turned to
the grand old hymn "Spirit of God,
Descend Upon My Heart." As we sang it
together, I could feel quietness and strength
seeping into my bones. Then we came to a line
that jolted me. I had sung it often, but had
never really thought about it: "Teach me the
patience of unanswered prayer."
Unanswered prayer?

What did the songwriter mean? What did I
mean as I sang it?

You see, it is my conviction that no prayer
prayed in the name of Jesus is unanswered. It
may not be answered as I think it should or in
the manner I carefully outline for God, but that
doesn't mean it isn't answered.

Maybe the words were telling me that if I
just hang, in long enough, I can get my own
way, self-destructive as it may turn out to be.
They seem to suggest that if we are fervent
enough, persistent enough, God will sooner or
later throw up His hands and say, "Okay, you
got it— and shut the door on your way out! "

Now there may be that kind of prayer, but,
if so, it's not the kind of praying I want to do or
the kind of answer I want to receive.

I am wary of that approach because of
what I pray in the Lord's Prayer. We can start
with "Our Father ....»» Why is it, then, that
having freely approached God as Father, we
suppose He will not act like a father when we
tell Him what we want?

Many a father's heart has been saddened
by having to refuse his child a gift on which the
child's heart is set. It may be because the
father is out of work and cannot afford the gift
(certainly not a problem with God). Or maybe
the child is still too young for the gift desired.

The father, being wiser than the child, less
self-centered, knows what the child does not
know. His refusal to say yes is a caring, not an
uncaring act. Given the circumstances and the
consequences, "No" or "Not yet" may be a
more loving answer than "Yes." I know from
my own experience as a parent that it is
sometimes more painful to refuse a request
that to grant it. It isn't giving in that most
severely tests parenthood, but holding back.

A parent naturally wants the best for his
child. How much more does God. Remember
how Jesus illustrated the character of God:
"What father among you, if his son asks for a

fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scor-
pion? If you then, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much
more shall your heavenly Father . . .?" (Luke
11:11-13, RSV).

And would not the reverse also be true?
What father, if his sons asks for a serpent, will
not give him a fish instead? Or if he asks for a
scorpion, will not give him an egg? How much
more will our Heavenly Father?

Our impatience comes when we do not
recognize what is for our ultimate good. God's
version of a fish or an egg may look less attrac-
tive than our image of a serpent or a scorpion.
Our vision is limited. Our judgment is flawed.
Our wants tend to be selfish ones because we
live in the "right now." If we get something
that looks the way we suppose a good thing
should look, we are satisfied and say, "Praise
the Lord, my prayer was answered!"

Is God impressed by our fist-pounding and
heel-kicking tantrums even when we try to
dignify them by calling them prayers? Hardly.
Not even you or I would be impressed.

Perhaps that is why, in the Lord's Prayer,
we don't get very far from "Our Father" until
we get to "Thy will be done." Prayer is not just
a list of "gimmes" from a child sitting on the
lap of a cosmic Santa Claus. It is communica-
tion with One who is wisdom and love. The cat-
tle on a thousand hills are His, but I come to
Him in prayer not so much for a few head of
cattle as to be reassured that He is there— and
here— and that He cares about what happens to
me. His hand is more important than what's in
it. God is more than a heavenly pinata from
which, if I pound hard enough, goodies will
drop out.

There is another verse about prayer that I
often have reason to recall: "Whatsoever ye
shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall
ask anything in my name, I will do it" (John
14:13-14). I think we have paid more attention
to the "anything" than to the "in my name."
The latter does not just validate a request by
being tacked on at the end, but represents a
whole way of looking at life.

Can we honestly pray in Jesus' name and
at the same time, like a spoiled child, insist on
our own way? And does there not come a point
in our praying when asking must stop and ac-
cepting begin?

Many of my prayers have not been
answered as I thought they should have been.

(Turn the Page)

June 1986

7

Thank God for that! Joseph, in the pit, must
have prayed for deliverance. On the way into
slavery, he may have sighed, "God did not
answer. Lord, teach me the patience of
unanswered prayer." But God, seeing down the
dusty road to Egypt and beyond, was building
an answer beyond all that Joseph could imag-
ine.

IT'S ME, IT'S ME, IT'S ME, O LORD

by Stan Mooneyham

When we evangelicals sing these words
to confess we are "standing in the
need of prayer," it is a personal and
therapeutic admission. But today's concentra-
tion upon "me" has gone far beyond humility.
We evangelicals these days seem to be in-
terested not so much in confessing as in
possessing. We have become too introspective
for our own— or anybody else's— good.

Not many years ago Christians were
distressed by the "me generation" — those peo-
ple, mostly young, whose only concern was
themselves. If it felt good, it was good (no mat-
ter how it made someone else feel). "What's in
it for me?" was the one question worth asking.

After that era— and growing out of
it— something called self-awareness came
along. "Self -absorption" might be a better
name for it. The idea was to look within
oneself, be "open," be "natural," "let it all
hang out," and then one would be "fulfilled"
and problems would disappear. The process of
experiencing was thought to be more important
than what one was experiencing. One of the key
words was "interiorizing." Scores of self-help
books, courses, and large and small groups
emerged.

If all this had stayed in "the world" — the
world which Christians expect to be self-
centered— there would be little reason for sur-
prise. But like so many trends, fads and foibles
that evangelicals tend to legitimize about 20
years later, we gradually developed our own
brand of me-ness.

Tune around the Christian radio dial and
listen to what is being offered. Watch religious
television. Interiorizing is going on all over the
place. We are told how to be more successful,
more powerful, better liked, how to make more
money, how to cope with guilt, loneliness,
divorce, singleness, ill health, old age, middle
age, youth. Look through the religious
magazines and see the books that are being
advertised. Immediacy and introspection
predominate. Such books are advertised

because that is what evangelicals are buying.
We are buying because it is what a lot of us are
interested in. Listen to our gospel songs; is
"self-centered" too strong an adjective? We
are well into our own me-generation.

Success is better than failure— but whose
measuring stick are we using, and how long is
it? Coping is better than not coping, but we do
not cope in a vacuum. No Christian is an
island. We are bound up with neighbors, as
Jesus dramatically made clear in the parable
of the Good Samaritan. We live in communities
and nations and hemispheres and in a world. I
doubt that it is possible to cope individually or
without considering those with whom we have
relationships in the body of Christ.

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

A tribe in East Africa may understand this
better than most of us. When the first greeting
of the day is exchanged, one person asks
another, "Are you well?" The response is, "I
am well if you are." Among this group, in-
dividual well-being is not possible apart from
the wholeness of the community.

This seems to be closer to what Jesus
taught than most of what is being practised by
His followers today.

We're accepting the wrong things as
evidence of achievement. "Faith is the
evidence of things not seen." We have become
less inquisitive and more acquisitive. "Suppos-
ing that gain is godliness," we aim for gain
(1 Timothy 6:5). Believing that someday we
shall reign with Him, many of us are in no
mood to wait. But a quick look at 2 Timothy
2:12 will tell us the correct order of events on
that one: "If we suffer, we shall also reign with
Him."

Christ is passing out no kingships now, only
crosses. Christ teaches us how to give more,
not how to get more ; how to suffer, not how to
escape; the importance of sharing, not the
necessity for hoarding; how to be a servant,
not how to demand special privilege ; how to
handle a towel, not a scepter.

In a sense, "me" is the place where things
must begin: "Just as / am, without one plea,

but that Thy blood was shed for me. " But it
shouldn't end there. How many times a day do
we have to check our spiritual blood pressure?

Me-ism is eloquently summarized in a
television commercial featuring Billie Jean
King, who is advertising a brand of vitamins.
She could as well be promoting some of the
current brands of evangelicalism when she con-
cludes her endorsement: "... because you can
never do enough for yourself."

Then there's Chester Bitterman, the
Wycliffe translator taken hostage in Colombia
and murdered when his organization would not
pay ransom for his release. Bernie May,
Wycliffe's U.S. director, soliciting prayer for
Chester shortly before his body was found,
wrote: "Chet knew when he joined Wycliffe
that it was risky business. But following Christ
is always that— for all of us. It is mandatory as
we move from Gethsemane toward Calvary
that we know who we are and where we stand
when the torches light the garden at midnight. ' '

When we can say, "Use me, Lord— use
even me," that's a me-generation worth
belonging to.

Used by permission, World Vision International.

June 1986

9

CHRISTIAN CAMPING:
P THE SUMMER ALTERNATIVE

by Janie Sowers

Just where does Christian camping fit in-
to a church program? EVERYWHERE!
How can a camp located many miles from your
steeple be a significant influence on every
member of your church! MIGHTILY!

The local church is the heart of God's work.
There are countless forms of the local church's
ministry (such as youth groups, women's groups,
men's groups, fellowships, and senior adults
groups). But without a good relationship with the
local church, their efforts are in vain! Imagine
bringing the gospel to a camper, challenging him
to grow in his relationship to Christ, then sending
him home to a local church unwilling to
acknowledge the effect the camp experience has
on the parishioner. The newly sown seed soon
withers and dies. Without nourishment from the
local church, the camp experience was wasted.
Why would a church turn a cold shoulder to such a
valuable asset to its ministry? That's not a new
question— nor is it a new problem. Could it be
that in our zeal to build up the church that we
become jealous of any "outside" spiritual in-
fluence? Surely high average attendance totals
aren't such an obsession as to downplay any at-
tempts to promote one of those outside in-
fluences. Or is it?

The church is made up of the Lord's people.
Surely then, we should utilize every opportunity
that comes our way to build up those people. And
one of the strongest extensions is the Christian
camping experience, especially for young people.

I for one know of many contributions which
Christian camping has made to our denomination.
From Cragmont have come many ministers,
church leaders, and missionaries. Many a young
person and adult have met Christ for the first time
on the side of Mount Allen; countless others have
committed their lives to His lordship.

And what responsibility does the church have
for the promotion of Cragmont, for supporting it?
Well, what responsibility does the right arm have
to the left? None. . . if it wants to go through life
working alone to pull the load. But if it really wants
to go forward, it will welcome the helping hand
which Cragmont extends.

CRAGMONT CALENDAR 1986

Many times parents do not know who to con-
tact to get their child registered for a week of
camp. We have listed here the weeks of camps
that are available. Also provided are the name and
address of the person you need to contact to
register for a particular week. If for some reason
you have any questions regarding a week, you
should contact this person listed.

General Youth Conference June 16-21

Rick Watson, Registrar
Route 3, Box 142-AA
Kenly, NC 27542

Christian Cadet Conference

Bobby Taylor, Director-Registrar
Route 2, Box 40-A
Middlesex, NC 27557

Youth Frontier Conference (YFA)

Scott and Janie Sowers, Directors-Registrars
Route 1, Box 106-B
Farmville, NC 27828

Youth Frontier Conference (AFC)

Doug Skinner, Director-Registrar
Box 117

Arapahoe, NC 28510

General Youth Conference II

Adrian Grubbs, Director-Registrar
Route 1, Box 72-A
Deep Run, NC 28525

Ministers' Conference

Calvin Heath, Registrar
Route 5, Box 369
Mount Olive, NC 28365

Young People's Bible Conference

James Gurganus, Director-Registrar
Route 3, Box 64
Newport, NC 28570

Woman's Auxiliary Conference I

Mrs. Alice Barrow, Registrar
Route 2, Box 375
Snow Hill, NC 28580

Woman's Auxiliary Conference II

Mrs. Alice Barrow, Registrar
Route 2, Box 375
Snow Hill, NC 28580

June 30-July 5

July 8-13

July 14-19

July 21-26

July 29-Aug. 2

August 4-9

August 11-16

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

THE DREAM
BECOMES REALITY

by Patti O'Donoghue

Mount Olive College awarded
its first baccalaureate degrees
on May 10, in College Hall. The
125 graduates made up the
largest graduating class in the
history of the College, with 49
candidates receiving bac-
calaureate degrees and 76
receiving associate degrees.

The Honorable James B.
Hunt, former governor of North
Carolina, gave the commence-
ment address. Speaking to the
approximately 1,300 in atten-
dance, he said that "Mount
Olive College is modern-day
proof that God is at work in our
world." (And he is right! )

Alumni joined together in a
reserved section. The College
had issued special invitations to
all former students to be part of
the historic occasion.

Dr. W. Burkette Raper, who
has been president of Mount
Olive since 1954, set the tone of
the day's events and com-
mented on the significance of
the day:

This is indeed an hour of history.

In a few moments, the music of
the Brass Quintet of the North
Carolina Symphony will sound,
and the first baccalaureate
degrees will be carried from this
place.

How do we measure today?

Our goal must be more than the
awarding and receiving of
academic degrees, whether
associate or baccalaureate.

The measure of today will not be
in what has been done in this hour
but by what you graduates will do
after you leave this campus. The
real report of our first bac-
calaureate graduation will not ap-
pear in the papers tomorrow morn-
ing, but in the quality of work you
do in your places of employment,
and in the kind of persons you
become.

(Continued on Page 34)

June 1986

11

I SUN DAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

TEACHING DEMONSTRATION WORKSHOP

This is a new idea and program we offer to
you. It works! The Field Secretary will come to
your church, perhaps on a Wednesday night, and
actually teach a lesson. In the process, he will
demonstrate a great variety of teaching
methods. Its purpose is to have teachers observe
some effective teaching methods and be better
enabled to use them.

The outline for the workshop is as follows.

First, the lesson is presented. It takes 45 to 60
minutes. After this, those who are not teachers
and officers, if they so desire, are dismissed.

Second, the teaching methods which were
demonstrated are identified and discussed in
detail. This also takes 45 to 60 minutes.

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

This is a quick and effective way to expose
teachers to successful and diverse teaching
methods.

If you would like to schedule this workshop,
call or write the Field Secretary (Bass Mitchell,
Route 7, Box 471, Goldsboro, NC 27530; phone
734-8378).

COURSES TAUGHT

During April and May, the Field Secretary
taught the two courses in the Basic Teacher Cer-
tificate Program at Pamlico Technical College.
Twenty-three persons were enrolled in the
classes.

DO YOU HAVE ONE?

Do you have an outstanding teacher in your
Sunday School? Why not recognize him or her?
Nominate this person to be Teacher of the Year!

This is a new program offered by the State
Sunday School Convention. It was introduced at
the last meeting of the Convention.

It's easy. Just write to me and I will send you
all the forms and information you need.

Get the forms and complete them soon. The
deadline for getting them in is December 1st!

The first award will be presented at the
March, 1987, meeting of the Sunday School Con-
vention.

TRAINING RESOURCES

One of the best things you can do for your
Sunday School officers and teachers is to get
some quality books for them to read. Fortunate-
ly, some great ones are available from the Field
Secretary. They are listed below.

PRESCHOOLERS:

Understanding Today's Preschoolers

How to Guide Preschoolers

Teaching Preschoolers

Teaching and Learning With Young Children

GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN:
Understanding Today's Children
How to Guide Children

Teaching and Learning With Early Elementary Children
Teaching and Learning With Older Elementary Children

YOUTH:

Understanding Today's Youth

How to Guide Youth

Knowing and Helping Youth

The Church's Ministry With Senior Highs

ADULTS:

Understanding Today's Adults
How to Guide Adults

Learning Is Change: Adult Education in the Church

FOR SUPERINTENDENTS AND PASTORS:

A Growing Church School

Building An Effective Church Schoo!

The Care and Feeding of Volunteers

The Superintendent Plans His Work

Basic Sunday School Work

The Big Little School

We recommend that churches purchase the
books they need and place them in their church
library. They will be available to teachers and
officers now and in the future.

CONVENTION COMMENTS

Our Convention was held in March at Stoney
Creek Church. The theme was "Care and Grow
Through Teaching." The following are some of
the comments made about it.

CARING FOR CHILDREN WORKSHOP
"I learned a lot about how to get to know the

children and how to make the class time less boring."
"I was pleased with the way he showed how we can

help each child on a personal basis."

CARING FOR YOUTH WORKSHOP
"I was pleased by her enthusiastic presentation and
down-to-earth approach .... we needed more class
time."

"Please keep right on having these seminars. I'm
very pleased. Thank you so much. Very helpful."

CARING FOR ADULTS WORKSHOP
"I was pleased by Gary's presentation and the input

of the class."

"I learned that I should care more, and show that I

care and love my class members

PROBLEM-SOLVING SEMINAR
"I learned that I'm not the only one with problems

. . . and some new ways to deal with them."

"I was pleased by the way the material was

presented, and how it was related to almost every

church."

Many other comments and suggestions were
made. We will take these into consideration in
planning future programs.

HANDBOOK BEING REVISED

Several years ago the Sunday School Con-
vention drafted and published a Sunday School
Handbook. It contains a great deal of helpful in-
formation on improving the Sunday School. The
Field Secretary is in the process of updating and
revising it. It will be a useful resource for
pastors, superintendents, and Sunday School
councils. When completed, it will be published
and made available to our churches.

June 1986

13

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE!

FWB STUDENTS
RECOGNIZED FOR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Awards Dinner and the
Honors Banquet are held each
spring at Mount Olive College.
These events offer an oppor-
tunity for the College to thank
students for a "job well done!"
Free Will Baptists are among
the students who were
recognized for their ac-
complishments during the
academic year.

Awards Dinner

Those receiving certificates
at the Awards Dinners for
outstanding achievement and
service to the College were:
Michael Hodges of Vanceboro,
Juniper Chapel Church in
Craven County, the Chemistry
Award and the Henderson
Science Club Award (for
promise in the field of science) ;
Kelvin Coates of Goldsboro,
May's Chapel Church in Wayne
County, the Henderson Science
Club Award (for research in
science); Joseph Ard of Pink
Hill, Christian Chapel Church
in Lenoir County, and Roger
Keith Davis, Deep Run Church
in Lenoir County, Ministerial
Award; Tim Mills of Green-
ville, Memorial Chapel Church
at the Free Will Baptist
Children's Home, Art Award
(for service as past president of
the Art Club); and Leigh
Culbreth of Goldsboro, Stoney
Creek Church in Wayne Coun-
ty, the Sophia H. Potts English
Award.

Also recognized were: Pan-
dora Register Tyndall of Dunn,
Shady Grove Church in Samp-
son County, M. L. Johnson
Business Award; Victor Jones
of Ernul, New Haven Church in
Craven County, Claude Hunter
Moore, History Award; Chuck
Maddrey of Wilson, Daniels
Chapel Church in Wilson Coun-
ty, Most Outstanding Male In-
tramural Athlete Award; and
Oliver Godwin of Dunn, Shady

Grove Church in Sampson
County, Student Government
Association Award (for service
as treasurer).

Franklin Baggett of Jackson-
ville, Daly's Chapel Church in
Lenoir County, was installed as
vice president of the Student
Government Association.
Honors Banquet

The Honors Program is
designed to provide special
recognition to outstanding
scholastic achievers. These
honors scholarship recipients
work on projects during the
year which enable them to pur-
sue individual interests in addi-
tion to their regular academic
program.

Michael Hodges of Vance-
boro, Juniper Chapel Church in
Craven County, was winner of
the Research Award. Hodges
won the award last year, also.

Others receiving certificates
for successful completion of
their honors projects were:
Richard Mileski of Goldsboro,
Rains Crossroads Church in
Johnston County; Kelvin
Coates of Goldsboro, Michael
A. Overman of Dudley, both of
May's Chapel Church in Wayne
County; Norma Reardon of
Mount Olive, Snow Hill Church
in Duplin County ; Judy Tyndall
of Dudley, Junie Harper of
Albertson, Tanya Newson of
Deep Run, all of Piney Grove

Ministerial Award Winner— Joseph Ard of Pink Hill, left, receives a Ministerial
Scholarship Award from Dr. Michael Pelt, chairman of the department of religion and
philosophy. The award is given to Free Will Baptist ministerial students who have good
academic records and show promise of effective ministry. The award is sponsored by
the North Carolina Free Will Baptist Ministerial Association (photo by Patti
O'Donoghue). Roger Keith Davis, who shares the award, is not pictured.

Honors Project Winner— Michael Hodges of Vanceboro, right, accepts the
Research Award from science professor Lorelle F. Martin, his honors advisor. Hodges
did a series of experiments to determine the effects of age on the learning ability of
mice. This is the second year that he has won the award (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE!

Church in Duplin County ; Tam-
my Marshburn and Beverly
Rouse of Beulaville, both of
Mount Zion Church in Onslow
County; and Kimberly G.
Anderson of Pink Hill, Chris-
tian Chapel Church in Lenoir
County.

Also recognized for their
honors project were: Pandora
Register Tyndall of Dunn,
Shady Grove Church in Samp-
son County; Victor T. Jones of
Ernul, New Haven Church in
Craven County; Lori Elks of
Grifton, Elm Grove Church in
Pitt County; and Anthony
Sawyer of Columbia, Sound
Side Church in Tyrrell County;
Lisa Godwin of Wilson, Daniel's
Chapel Church in Wilson Coun-
ty; Wanda Jones of Pine Level,
Pine Level Church in Johnston
County; Franklin Baggett of
Jacksonville, Daly's Chapel
Church in Lenoir County; and

Debbie Outlaw of Mount Olive,
Rooty Branch Church in Duplin
County.

SPORTS CAMPS
SCHEDULED THIS SUMMER

Mount Olive College is offer-
ing three sports camps this
summer. The top-notch
facilities of College Hall assure
that our young people will be
able to participate in modern,
comfortable surroundings.

Men's Basketball Camp, June
23-27, for ages 12 through 18
(rising seniors)

Women's Basketball Camp, July
6-11, for ages 12 through 18 (ris-
ing seniors)

Baseball Camp, July 13-18, for
ages 9 through 18 (rising
seniors)

Participants in all the camps
will receive t-shirts. Cost for
the camps is $100 for day
campers and $150 for boarding
campers.

■

H'mong Students to Play Soccer— The Rev. Frank Harrison, Mount Olive College
chaplain, left, and Blong "Kevin" Moua, pause after Kevin signed as a player for the
new Trojan soccer team.

TouBee Yang also signed to play soccer. Witnessing TouBee's signing is J. E. An-
drews, right, co-director of Grantham Residence Hall.

Kevin and TouBee are Laotian refugees. They came to Mount Olive through the ef-
forts of the Free Will Baptist Home Mission Board and the Rev. Bob Harber, Free Will
Baptist missionary to the H'mong people in California. Harrison is advisor to the
H'mong students at the College (photos by Patti O'Donoghue and Steve Herring).

For more information and
registration forms contact the
Mount Olive College Athletic
Department, College Hall,
Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365 (telephone 919/658-2502).

MOUNT OLIVE
SUMMER SCHOOL
Session B
June 23-July 25

Summer school is open to
Mount Olive College students,
school teachers, students from
other colleges and universities,
and high school graduates
wishing to accelerate their col-
lege program. Credits earned
at Mount Olive's Summer
School may be transferred to
other institutions.

The five-week session offers
students the opportunity to
complete six (6) semester
credit hours. Classes will meet
Monday through Friday for one
and one-half hours. Registra-
tion will take place the first day
of class. The last day to add a
class will be June 25.

Courses to be offered include
Taxes, Principles of Biology,
Introduction to Business, In-
troduction to Data Processing,
Economics II, English Com-
position I, Public Speaking,
Western Civilization I and II,
American History, American
History I, United States
(1900-1929), Intermediate
Algebra, and Structures of
Math.

Other courses being offered
include College Algebra,
Trigonometry, Principles of
Management, Marketing,
Canoeing, Racquetball,
American Government, In-
troduction to Psychology,
Developmental Psychology and
New Testament.

For further information con-
tact the Admissions Office,
Mount Olive College, Mount
Olive, North Carolina 28365
(telephone 919/658-2502).

June 1986

15

ICRAGMONTI

Cragmont
Tournaments

October 2, 1980, marked the beginning of a
new and, although we didn't realize it, exciting
event for Cragmont. On that day we held the first
Cragmont Superball Golf Tournament. Though
support and participation lacked luster, en-
thusiasm was high.

The 1980 edition featured 26 golfers, offered
$500 in prizes, took in $150 in contributions, and
showed tournament profits of $280. Seventeen
people were present to eat a meal that cost $150
to have catered. The tournament was beset by
cloudy, cool weather conditions which ultimately
yielded a chilly late afternoon shower. The at-
mosphere was more of a Saturday afternoon golf
outing than that of a tournament. In spite of the
minimal success, the participants expressed
much enthusiasm and urged us to make this an
annual event. Upon that recommendation, we con-
tinued and the tournament has steadily grown far
beyond any of our expectations. Steady increases

in sponsorship and player participation resulted in
the 1985 edition featuring 190 golfers, $5,400 in
prizes, 320 people present for the meal, $2,100 in
profit and seven young people earning half the
cost of a week of camp at Cragmont. The 1986 edi-
tion (number 7) is expected to show even greater
participation. Because of this, we have expanded
the tournament to two days with three different
tee times. The tournament will be held on August
14-15 this year and will again be at Happy Valley in
Wilson. Your participation and support of this
tournament will allow you to see that this is more
than recreation. It has developed into a ministry of
outreach, witness and awareness. God has
worked through this ministry and blessed it far
beyond our most courageous dreams of that cool,
cloudy October day in 1980 and once again taught
us that if we will follow, He will lead us in the path
we should go and bless us many times over.

Yes, God can and does work through a golf
tournament. Come join us!

16

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Not unlike our first golf tournament, the first
of our annual softball tournaments was, at best,
inauspicious. Marked with many organizational
problems, it pulled only eight teams and profited a
very modest $45 for effort worth much more.

Having learned by our mistakes and having
seen the fruits of perseverance through our golf
tournament, we were not dismayed. We decided
to continue until we got it right. This tournament,
too, has steadily increased in support and profit to
the point that the 1985 edition was revamped to in-
clude a women's tournament and drew a total of
24 teams. An estimated 1500 people (fans and
players) were involved last year and more than
$600 in profits were realized. Many of those at-
tending in past years have made many new Free

Will Baptist friends and look forward to the re-
union each year.

The 1986 version will be revamped to break
teams into three divisions; we will call them men's
"A," men's "B," and women's brackets.
Bracketing for men will be determined by prior
years' finishes, team strength and availability of
teams. We hope to have 30 men's teams (all FWB)
and 10 women's teams (all FWB). This may well be
the Free Will Baptist championship of softball.

The 1986 edition will be held August 22-23 at
Toisnot, in Wilson. We urge your participation and
request your presence. A nearby park offers ac-
tivities for children. For a leisurely event of friend-
ly competition, wholesome family activity and
Christian fellowship, come join us!

In General

Growth from small beginnings to major ac-
complishments is nothing new to the Christian
faith or the Free Will Baptist denomination. The
Church at large had a small beginning but has
continued and strived with success to grow and
get better. In our denomination we have seen
many institutions— Mount Olive College, Home
Missions, Foreign Missions, the Children's Home
and Cragmont— come from obscurity to become
major influences in our community, state, nation
and even our world. None of this has been done
without dedication of the most humble Christian

or the most charismatic leader who has
understood that his footsteps are to be guided by
the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ. It is, therefore,
no accident that our tournaments have been and
will continue to be successful.

A man of great vision can only see the
horizon; God sees far more and will lead us
there— if we will follow. We thank all those who
have supported, are supporting, and will begin and
continue to support us in this and all we try to ac-
complish for the advancement of the Kingdom of
God.

June 1986

17

Saturday

7

Neh. 4-6

14

Esther 8-10

21

Job 25-29

28

Psalms 18-22

JULY

5 M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31

Friday

6

Neh. 1-3

13

Esther 4-7

20

Job 21-24

27

Psalms 10-17

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31

■

mm

JUNE 1986

Thursday

5

Ezra 10

12

Esther 1-3

19

Job 17-20

26

Psalms 1-9

c

0

Wednesday

4

Ezra 8-9

11

Neh. 13

18

Job 13-16

25

Job 41-42

Tuesday

3

Ezra 6-7

10

Neh. 11-12

17

Job 9-12

24

Job 38-40

c

CN «

CO

CT>

<sD 00

.o

23

34-37

30

31-35

3

■ 1 1

Monda

N
LU

Neh

o

—)

Job

Psalms

| Sunday

Ezra 1-2

8

Neh. 7-8

15

Job 1-4

22

Job 30-33

29

Psalms 23-30

HARRELL'S CHAPEL
AUXILIARY VISITS HOME

Harrell's Chapel Church bus pulled on cam-
pus with an energetic group of ladies and some of
the youth who came along for the ride. Some of
the ladies had visited before, but all wanted to see
the campus and children again. Mr. Roger Sutton,
a member of the church, served as bus driver,
guide and photographer. After touring the
facilities, the ladies prepared refreshments which
they had brought to share. Children, visitors and
staff enjoyed the delicious food. After cleaning up
and giving the children extra refreshments to
carry back to their cottages, the ladies were off
again to visit in each cottage.

Ladies, thank you for sharing and making
Saturday, April 19, a delightful day.

STATE YOUTH CONVENTION PROJECT

This past year the youth of our State Convention accepted as a project the recreational center of the
Home.

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

(CHILDREN'S HOMEI

The renovation began in January, '86, and was
completed in May. The renovations included: new
lights, drapes, a closet and flooring in the main
assembly room. A bathroom and sun shelter were
constructed in the pool area. The game room
received new lights, drapes and furniture.

We wanted to say a special thank you to the
youth of our State Convention from our children,
staff and Board. Now we take pride in the Recrea-
tion Center and look forward to sharing this facili-
ty with our youth and church groups.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
PRESENTED TO THE
REV. JAMES B. HARDEE

During the annual organizational meeting of
the Board of Directors, the Rev. James Hardee
was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation
by the Board. Making the presentation was Board
President, Mrs. Rebecca Davenport, and Vice
President, Mr. James W. Cahoon. Mr. Hardee
served on the Board of Directors for over 15 years.
Many of those years he served as President, pro-
viding leadership and a dedication to our child
care ministry. Mr. Hardee is pastor of Oak Grove
Church, Bladen County, located near Bladenboro,
North Carolina.

June 1986

21

FOREIGN MISSIONS!

THE IMPACT OF OUR

by Dr.

The teaching work is a part of
the ministry of our church in
North India which has been
carried on along with the
preaching ministry. The educa-
tional program of the church
consists of Christian and
general education. Our schools,
despite their handicaps to being
efficient institutions, have been
preferred by parents and
guardians for the education of
their children. These institu-
tions not only aim at producing
good academic results but also
try to maintain a suitable at-
mosphere for the growth of
students' personality and
character.

We have 17 elementary
schools in the four big districts
of our state, with a total enroll-
ment of 1213. We have four of
our own school buildings, and
three are under construction.
In a few places we have hired
school buildings; more schools
meet in open air. I recently
heard from our director, the
Rev. Harold Jones, that funds
are being raised for six more
school buildings.

These schools are the step-
ping stones of our rural
ministry in the most extensive
parts of North India. It is

1 - fel^

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

E. M. hall

through these schools that we
have opportunities to
evangelize the non-Christians.
Many souls have been saved
through these schools and
brought to the fold of our
Master.

We are making all-out efforts
to ensure that a good number of
our schools get the recognition
of our state government as of
July, 1986, so as to stand second
to none. Our Matkhera School,
where the enrollment is over
200, is being raised to the status
of junior high school in July,
1986. This school has recently
acquired electric power so
evening-hour coaching classes
held by the resident teachers
for the junior section can begin
in July, 1986.

There is a prospect that this
school can be raised to high
school status in the near future
provided we meet the needs of
the educational code regarding
land and adequate class rooms.

There is growing need for
more junior high schools
among our institutions so that
our students wherever possible
may advance from the elemen-
tary schools to continue in
Christian atmosphere and nur-
ture. We are praying that much
good will be delivered to the
people through these schools.

The Original Free Will Bap-
tists in America have made a
great contribution to education
conducted by our church
denomination here in India. We
often explain in the schools the
source of the funds that support
our teachers and help pay for
our schools. Our teachers and
children appreciate this and
join with us in conveying
thanks to the people concerned
with this spiritual and educa-
tional welfare.

EASTER 1986

by Willem van der Plas

It may be forgotten already
that the Actor of Easter is our
risen Lord, blessing our souls
with the joy of His resurrection.
At 4:30 a.m. we went to Raffols
Beach, on the shore of the Sulu
Sea. The believers of
Canigaran Free Will Baptist
Church and San Pedro Free
Will Baptist Outreach invited
us for the sunrise service and
they asked me to bring the
message.

When we arrived at the beach
we had to wake up the guard. A
serene silence surrounded us
and we could not even hear the
sounds of the waves. The night
and nature both kept everybody
silent. I repeated the headlines
of my message, because it was
impossible to read any Scrip-
ture or outline notes in this
darkness. The people entered
the beach garden in small
groups and we enjoyed the
passing night.

The very first light appeared
in the sky, somewhere between
us and the horizon, very high.
We saw the first changes
caused by the sun, although it
still was invisible. I compared
the sight with our Christian life,
searching for Christ while look-
ing too far away. We look just
on eye level to a faraway
horizon, and doing so we re-
main in darkness. Christ shows

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS!

Himself nearer and in a
heavenly way.

We can also look too close and
we discover that the darkness
overpowers us again, because
we look upon ourselves and our
fellow men for safety, while we
must look further and higher to
see the Light. The Light coming
from on high is between
ourselves and the horizon.
There on the beach, the light
grew stronger and stronger un-
til we were able to read the
Word of God. In the darkness
we could only see the shape of
the book but the light made it
meaningful.

Life and Light belong
together as John 1:1-12 teach
us ; and the first eight verses of
Matthew 28 show also that
heavenly light and life belong
together. Jesus is no longer the
humble Servant; He is the Liv-
ing Son in the fullness of His
glory and His power. The Word
of the creation day has died but
now lives stronger and more
victorious than ever before. I
see here the fusion of obedience
and love which produces the
greatest possible energy to
rescue a totally lost mankind
from sin into everlasting life.

GOD IS MOVING IN
THE SOUTH COUNTRY

by Missionary Fred Baker

A few months ago we gave
you a report of God's moving in
the north country on the island
of Palawan. Now let us share
with you what God is doing in
the southern part of this
beautiful island.

Roberto Aguilar and Nerry
Peralta launched out to In-
gawan in July of 1985. Ingawan
is located 52 kilometers, 32
miles, south of Puerto
Princesa. This barangay had
no evangelical church. Several
attempts by other groups to
start a church here had failed,
with the pastors being stoned

and chased away. We observed
carefully. The men of Ingawan
did not have time for religion,
but the women were interested.
As Bible studies were begun, a
problem developed. The
husbands became jealous of
their wives meeting for Bible
studies with the two pastors.
Through much prayer, God led
us to change the male pastors
and replace them with a ladies'
team. Lilibeth Millano and
Nelia Simbajon began their
work in Ingawan in November.
We have been amazed at God's
wisdom. Since November in a
barangay that was so difficult,
nine have accepted Christ and
received baptism. The young
people have organized a youth
group and have plans to build a
small chapel to worship in.

Apo Aporawan is 90
kilometers, 56 miles, south of
Puerto. It takes three good
hours to reach this barangay.
Amorio Lansap and Ariston
Pilapil accepted this challenge
in July, 1985. For the first week,
the residents thought these two
strangers were terrorists with
the NPA, New People's Army.
They were reluctant to believe
that they were pastors. Apo
Aporawan is within listening
distance of the Free Will Bap-
tist radio program over the
radio station DYPR. The
following week, the Rev. Pio
dela Rosa gave greetings over
the radio to Pastors Amorio
Lansap and Ariston Philapil
and to the residents of Apo
Aporawan. The people were
convinced! The work was
begun. Many have accepted
Christ and five have been bap-
tized. They have purchased a
guitar to use in their services.
This barangay also had no
evangelical gospel witness.
God has changed that for His
glory.

One hundred and thirty-five
kilometers, 85 miles, south of

Puerto Princesa is a barangay
named Abo Abo. It does have
one evangelical church. After
surveying the size of the
barangay and the number of
families, it was felt that the
Free Will Baptists should start
a work there. Pastors Joel dela
Rosa and Jerito Saluto have
been working in Abo Abo since
July, 1985. They have had many
trials, but God has been
faithful. Six have been bap-
tized. A lot to build the chapel
on has been donated. They have
a number of Bible studies and a
close working relationship with
the World Vision Project in Abo
Abo.

The latest work to have been
opened here is Iraray. This
barangay is 160 kilometers, 100
miles, south of Puerto Princesa
City. Roberto Aguilar and
Nerry Peralta, the team that
was pulled out of Ingawan,
were sent to this barangay.
They arrived at their new work
in January, 1986. They already
have many Bible studies. The
barangay officials have
already promised a site for a
chapel.

The fields are white unto
harvest in the south. All of
these teams in the north and
south are students at Palawan
Bible College. They have
graduated with an Associate
degree in Biblical Education
and are working on their
Bachelor's degrees. They are
doing a fine job. Pray for them.
They live on the cutting edge of
the Great Commission.

Oh, that we had a 1,000 more
to send out into the harvest
fields! Pray with us that the
Lord of the harvest will send
forth more laborers into the
harvest. Let us equip them and
support them in prayer and
financial needs.

Thank you for your partner-
ship with the Free Will Baptist
Church of the Philippines.

June 1986

23

HOME MISSIONS!

WILL YOU

by the Rev.

MANY of the H'mong
people from Laos and I
from Missouri, arrived in Santa
Ana, California, about the same
time in 1976. I was moving to
Southern California to pastor
the First General Baptist
Church of Santa Ana. The
H'mong people were fleeing
from communist oppression.

It was not long until the
H'mong people began to use our
church building for afternoon
worship and I began to work
with them on a very limited
basis.

After leaving the pastorate of
the Santa Ana General Baptist
Church, I returned to work with
the H'mong people at least one
week each year. I began to feel
the "call" of God to work with
them on a full-time basis. This
"call" was intensified when
Brother Mouage Moua said to
me in public discussion,
"Pastor, we have lost our
homes, our land, our country,
now even our families; we have
nothing left that we can call our
own except our church (not
building). Will you help us keep
it for our own?"

After a few years the church
had grown to three congrega-
tions. Then Pastor Wa Lo Lee,

HELP US?

Bob Harber

the newly elected president of
the now Lao Evangelical
Church, asked me, "Pastor
Harber, when will you come
back to California and help
us?" After this, I was con-
vinced that to return to Califor-
nia and work with the H'mong
people was God's will for my
life. But, how could I? The
H'mong people had no way to
take care of my physical needs.

After much prayer and
searching, I asked both the
General Baptist and the
Original Free Will Baptist
Home Mission Boards to spon-
sor me in the work with the
H'mong. The two Home Mis-
sion Boards appointed me as
Field Missionary to work with
ethnic groups in Southern
California, primarily the
refugees from Southeast Asia.
This appointment was to be
through the ministry of the Lao
Evangelical Church. Never
once, since this appointment,
have I ever felt anything other
than their complete support. I
thank God for their support and
their courage to try something
different.

Since beginning this work,
God has given me a wonderful
helpmate, Dollie, who shares

very deeply in this ministry. I
was a widower when I moved
on the "field" as Field Mis-
sionary.

The Lord has blessed this
work in a great way. We now
have eight church congrega-
tions, plus two "house
churches," here in California,
with a ministry to not only the
H'mong, but also the
"Kh'mou" and the "Mien"
from Laos as well as some
Cambodians. We also have con-
tacts and opportunities with
groups in Minneapolis, Min-
nesota; Marion and Charlotte,
North Carolina.

We are convinced that this is
God's will for our lives by the
impression of the Holy Spirit
within, the success and oppor-
tunities of our work, also by
many personal experiences.
Experiences such as the time
when a teen-age girl came run-
ning to me in the churchyard,
with tears in her eyes, threw
her arms around me and said:
"Pastor, I have done bad, I am
a bad girl, pray for me, forgive
me." We prayed together there
in the churchyard for her
forgiveness and restoration.
H'mong people don't cry much,
especially in public. H'mong
ladies and teen-age girls don't
touch men, much less hug
them. I felt both honored and
humbled by her expression of
love and confidence. The girl
had been bad, she had embar-
rassed her family, hurt a young
man and had brought reproach
on her church. I was given the
opportunity to share in her
repentance and restoration.
There are many such personal
experiences.

All of our experiences are not
victorious, some are discourag-
ing. At this present time we are
experiencing some frustration
and anxiety because we are
spread too thin to be really ef-
fective. Help us pray about this.

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOME MISSIONS

A SENSE OF CALL?

by Dollie A. Harber

IN 1983, I was pretty well
grounded in a little town in
Arkansas where I had no inten-
tions of ever leaving. My
children, grandchildren, my
home, and a good job as a
teacher made for a pretty smug
life.

As comfortable and content
as I may have been, God
doesn't intend for anyone to get
too comfortable in this world.
So, you might say, He did a lit-
tle "shake-up" on my life.

After much prayer and strug-
gle with the decision to leave
family, home, and job, I moved
to Southern California to join
Bob on the mission field.

Keep in mind the cost of liv-
ing in Southern California. This
factor made it necessary for
me to work. I had always con-
sidered myself to be fairly in-
telligent, but with the many
ways my life was pulled at the
time, I had to do some heavy
work in the books to pass all the
required tests, as well as attend
college to get the needed hours
for certification.

In addition to my job with the
Santa Ana Unified School
System as Resource Specialist,
I have been teaching the
H'mong ladies homemaking,
family planning, and tutoring
some of the youth in English
and History. Some of the
H'mong adults also come to me
for academic help. Some days I
feel like I'm in half a walnut
shell coming into the rapids of
the river. Then I stop and look
up, then I regroup and start
again. Then the waters "so to
speak" become calm and
everything goes okay.

Due to the conflict in our
schedules, many times I cannot
go with Bob when he goes to the
churches in the northern parts
of the state. On those weekends,

I can be found working with the
H'mong in Santa Ana or helping
anywhere I am needed. At pres-
ent, I am helping Ocean View
fill-in in the loss of Brother Seth
Harrellson as teacher and song
leader, and I'm also working
with children in songs and
choruses before church.

Of the many experiences that
I have had since I came onto
the field, I guess there are at
least three that would confirm
that I'm where God wants me
to be. One, the pure unselfish

acceptance of a white female
into a culture where no woman
is allowed to be any kind of
leader. This acceptance was
shown by the love shown me
when I came on the field. The
H'mong people all across the
state held wedding feasts with
native costumes — also for
me— in each city on my first
visit to each city. You would
have thought I was some kind
of royalty. They were very
pleased that Bob had a

(Turn the Page)

June 1986

25

helpmate. They accepted me
because I was a part of him,
and they think he is just about
perfect. Sometimes it's
frightening the way they
believe everything that we tell
them. This is very humbling.
Two, when Mouchou Mowa and
his wife adopted me as their
American mother and gave a
special place of honor in the
baby-naming ceremony (feast)
of their first daughter. Third,
when I saw the need for my ex-
pertise in working with
children.

One of the heart-wrenching
experiences that I've had was
when a nine-year-old girl said
that she sure would like to have
some cereal and milk like the
American kids have. She said
that her sister brings milk
some times when she comes to
visit, but there is no cereal to go
with it. They do not consider
rice as cereal. Rice to them is
like our beans and potatoes.

Another experience was, sit-
ting on the floor in a cold room
teaching 6 to 9 year olds
American choruses, while Bob
spoke to their parents in
another room of the nearly bare
apartment. We call this a
"house church."

Then there was the time
when 30 ladies took one step
backward when I said, "Let's
back up a step, ladies; I've left
out a step in my presentation."
I was teaching them how to rid
their homes of pests.

The skills that God has
groomed me with over the
years and the great spiritual
responsibility that is weighed
upon a missionary, make me
realize that I must be where
God wants me. I believe God
had something to do with the
timing and the sequence of
events that brought me where I
am. I thank God for the oppor-
tunity to work in His field and I
daily count it a blessing.

■HOME MISSIONSi^R^MH^HMHMHMHI

NEW CHURCH SIGN HELPS BUILD ENDOWMENT

8&S

§5ss

VERONA FREE WILL BAPTIST

VIVAI A d
MA? & 21 8-P.M.

CALVARY

The Verona Church of Verona, North Carolina, purchased the above sign recently,
thus enabling the Home Missions Board to receive a percentage of the sale for our
General Endowment Fund.

A special agreement with the representative of Stewart Signs has been made with
our Home Missions Board whereby we may receive a percentage of all church sign
sales made to any Original Free Will Baptist Church. Should your church be interested
in a new church sign or bulletin board, you may contact: STEWART CHURCH SIGNS by
calling (toll free number) 1-800-237-3928.

FIRM PROVIDES CAR

\ I Jj\ - B4J8

The Rev. David C. Hansley, Tom and Mina Rains

M and T MOTORS of Pine Level, North Carolina, recently presented the Home Mis-
sions Board with a gift of an automobile. Making the presentation was Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Rains, owners and operators of M and T MOTORS. The keys were accepted by the
Rev. David C. Hansley, director of Home Missions.

This year, M and T MOTORS celebrates its 25th anniversary. The family-owned
business has been very successful. Recognizing their help from the Lord, Tom and
Mina have not forgotten to share their blessings. For some time M and T MOTORS
have provided an automobile for our foreign missionaries while they were on itinerary
and now they have provided an automobile for Home Missions.

Mr. and Mrs. Rains are long-time active members of Pine Level Church.

We shall ever be grateful for M and T MOTORS as they provide an automobile for
the work and ministry of Home Missions.

26

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

All Free Will Baptists— Emphasizing
Concerts of Prayer as
Taught by David Bryant.

If you long for revival (the fullness of Christ in our church) and for fulfillment (the
preaching of the gospel of all people), then we must pray together.

Every Free Will Baptist who can possibly come should. This will be one of the most
exciting and fulfilling days of your life.

(Things to bring: Bible and a lawn chair.)

A sandwich lunch will be available at $2.

How This Day Was Conceived: On June 5, 1984, Frank Ray Harrison and Harold
Jones went before the Executive Committee of the State Convention to ask them to
lead Free Will Baptists into days of prayer for revival, unity, growth, and world
outreach. The Executive Committee agreed and appointed Harold Jones, Frank Ray
Harrison and Gary Bailey to serve on the committee to plan and implement these
days of prayer. The committee decided to wait until after the 1986 World Missions
Conference, with David Bryant, on Concerts of Prayer. This has been a two-year
delay, but during this time the stage has been set for receiving what God has for
Free Will Baptists. Let us pray together and receive.

Come join us and bring someone with you.

Sponsored by the State Convention Executive Committee.

June 1986

27

LAYMEN'S LEAGUE SPIRITUAL LIFE RETREAT

Saturday, June 7, 1986— Eagles' Nest
Sponsored by Mount Olive College and the State Layman's League Convention

A M

M . IVI . —

— oiieni rrayer

r\. IVI . -

-oession i, i ne didig ana spiritual urowtn

I
I

Thp Rpv Wnvnp Kinn
i lie ncv. vvciyiic r\niy

A M -

r\ . IVI . —

-oebsion ii, i ne noiy opirii ana opiriiuai urowtn

|

The Rev. Frank Harrison

10:30-11:00

A.M.-

-Break

11:00-12:00

Noon

— Recreation

12:00- 1:00

P.M.-

-Lunch

1:00- 2:00

P.M.-

-Session III, "Worship and Spiritual Growth"

The Rev. Ray Williamson

2:00- 2:30

P.M.-

-Break

2:30- 3:30

P.M.-

-Bible Study and Prayer, "In Christ"

The Rev. Frank Harrison

3:30- 4:30

P.M.-

-Sharing and Testimony, The Rev. Lloyd Hargis

Each participant is asked to read a little paperback book entitled Out of Solitude-Three Meditations
on The Christian Life, by Henri J. M. Nouwen (Ave Marie Press, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556). The book may
be obtained from the Free Will Baptist Press or Mount Olive College. Also, bring your Bible.

For Additional Information, contact
The Rev. Frank R. Harrison
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365
Telephones: Office 658-2502; Home 658-9363

REGISTRATION FOR LAYMEN'S LEAGUE SPIRITUAL LIFE RETREAT

June 7, 1986

In order for the College to know how to plan the number for lunch and overnight accommodations,
each person planning to attend the retreat is requested to complete and return this form by May 30, 1986.

Make checks for overnight accommodations payable to the State Laymen's League.

Name

Address.
City

State Zip

Church

Conference

Home Telephone

(Check the appropriate blanks.)

I plan to attend the retreat at Eagles' Nest on June 7.

I plan to eat lunch at Eagles' Nest on Friday night, June 6 ($5). Bring your sleeping bag or whatever else you will need to stay

overnight
Please return this form to:

Mr. Floyd Newsome

Route 5, Box 256

Wilson, North Carolina 27893

28 THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

YFAers will soon be traveling to Cragmont Assembly to attend the 1986 Youth Frontier Conference.
Youth Frontier Conference/YFA Week is unique because it is the only youth encampment at Crag-
mont planned for just teenagers. This encampment always proves to be a time of fun and fellowship,
a time of soul-searching and inspiration. The theme for the week is "Keepers of the Faith," and this
year's encampment is scheduled for June 30— July 5.

To make sure that you are among those attending YFA Week, please mail the application below
soon! (Mail no later than June 15; but do not wait, as you might be closed out if you do.) Send the ap-
plication with a $10 registration fee. Letters explaining what you need to carry to camp will be sent
when your registration fee is received.

Checks should be made payable to Youth Frontier Conference/YFA Week.

APPLICATION

Name

Address

City/Town Zip

Phone Age Sex

Birthday Grade Completed

Church

Send application to: Scott and Janie Sowers, Directors
Route 1, Box 106-B
Farmville, NC 27828

June 1986

29

AFC CONFERENCE

CRAGMONT

July 7-12, 1986
Ages 8-12
Cost, $90

NAME

ADDRESS

SEX

REGISTRATION

Phone

Age

Birthdate

Please send this registration form, along with a $10 registration fee, to Doug Skinner, Box 117, Arapahoe,
NC 28510; telephone, 249-1484. The registration deadline is June 15.

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

To: All Ministers of the North Carolina State Convention of Original Free Will Baptists
Re: Pre-Registration for Cragmont Ministers' Conference, July 21-24, 1986

Dear Fellow Minister:

The Executive Committee of the Ministerial Association wishes to invite you to come be with us at Crag-
mont Assembly on July 21-24 for our annual Ministers' Conference. If you plan to attend this Conference,
please send $10 and the registration form below. (Make check payable to N.C. Ministerial Association.)
We wish to have your pre-registration by July 16, 1986.

This year's program is planned as follows:

Monday: 7:30 P.M. The Rev. Noah Brown

Tuesday: 9:30 A.M. The Rev. C. H. Overman

10:45 A.M. The Rev. James Joyner

7:30 P.M. Memorial Service and Business
Meeting

Wednesday: 9:30 A.M. The Rev. Ronnie Hobgood

10:45 A.M. The Rev. Leonard Woodall

7:30 P.M. The Rev. David Hines

Thursday: 8:00 A.M. The Rev. A. Graham Lane

"Holy Communion'
Worship Service
Worship Service

Worship Service
Worship Service
Worship Service
Prayer Breakfast

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR MINISTERS' CONFERENCE
July 21-24, 1986

Name Phone

Address

Please indicate your building preference (rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis):

Main Building Motel Floyd House Dorm

Do you have any existing health problems that would prevent you from being on the second floor? Yes No (The ground

floor of the Main Building will be reserved for those with health problems.)
*Name those you wish to room with if you stay in the motel or in the Main Building.

Note: All ministers' wives who stay on campus will room in the dorm behind the Dining Hall. ( ) Check here if your wife will be with
you.

Mail your registration form and $10 deposit (by July 16) to:

Calvin A. Heath
Route 1, Box 288
Dunn, NC 28334

Make checks payable to N.C. Ministerial Association.

Christian Flag Service at your funeral? Yes No

(new registration each year)

If you are unable to attend the Conference and wish to join the North Carolina Free Will Baptist Ministerial Association, please send
$5 membership dues to Calvin A. Heath at the above address.

The Ministerial Association encourages you to contribute toward our $5,000 pledge to the Cragmont Building Fund. Gifts should be
sent to Ralph Sumner, P.O. Box 445, Bridgeton, NC 28519.

June 1986

31

NEWS BRIEFS

THE 1986 BIBLE SWORD DRILL WINNERS of the North Carolina State League
Convention held at Winterville Church, on March 8, were: Juniors — first place, Stacy
Burgess, Hickory Chapel Church, Albemarle Conference; second place, Melody
Wainwright, Bethany Church, Central Conference; Intermediates — first place, Bever-
ly Thornton, Aspen Grove Church, Central Conference; second place, Thomas Rouse,
Bethany Church, Central Conference.

First-place winners will receive an all-expense paid trip to Cragmont; the second
place winners will receive a one-half expense paid trip.

Anyone needing information about a training service or a set of 1987 Bible Drill
rules, should contact Margaret Ard by writing to her at the following address: Route
1, Box 155, Pink Hill, NC 28572; phone, 568-4685.

THE 1986 SESSION OF THE
GENERAL CONFERENCE will be held at
Beaverdam Church, Chadbourn, NC,
June 23-24.

Churches are requested to send their
pastor as well as delegates for a time of
spiritual enlightenment and fellowship.

The scheduled program is as follows:

MONDAY
6:00— Registration
6:30— Special Music
7:00— Call to Order, the Rev. Harry
Jones, president

— Appointment of Committees
—Welcome, the Rev. Jackie God-
win, host pastor

— Response, the Rev. Mike Scott
—Youth Program and Activities

— Evening Sermon, the Rev. Tom
Price

— Altar Call

—Congregational Singing

— Prayer

TUESDAY
9:00— Registration Continued
9:15— Welcome and Special Music
9:20— Woman's Auxiliary Program
12:00— Lunch and Fellowship (Lunch
will be provided by the host
church)

2:00— Preaching and Fellowship, the
Rev. Stanley Buck, speaker

— Congregational Singing and
Special Music

3:00— The Rev. Joe Griffith, speaker

— Congregational Singing and
Special Music

— Recess

6:30— Business Session
7:00— Preaching and Fellowship, the
Rev. Jackie Godwin, speaker

— Congregational Singing and
Special Music

— Recess

8:00— The Rev. W. S. Burns, speaker

— Congregational Singing and
Special Music

—Adjournment

The directions to the church are as
follows: Take Highway 701 south of
Whiteville approximately eight miles. A
church sign will direct you to turn right;
then go approximately 1% miles.

Those wanting to spend the night will
find the following motels in the area:

Holiday Motel, Highway 701 North,
Whiteville; phone, 642-5162

Best Western Premiere Inn, 701
Bypass, Whiteville; phone, 642-2378

Chadbourn Motel, Strawberry
Boulevard; phone, 654-3247

El Rancho Motel, Highway 701 North,
Tabor City; phone 653-3169

THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY OF THE
GENERAL CONFERENCE will convene
with Beaverdam Church on June 23 at 7
p.m. The evening program will be under
the direction of Mrs. Wallie Hargrove,
General Conference Youth Chairman.

Those winning the State Youth Con-
vention Bible Bowl Competition are en-
couraged to compete at this convention.
Registration for this competition should
be sent to the attention of Wallie
Hargrove, Route 3, Box 294, Ayden, NC
28513.

The Tuesday morning session will
begin with registration at 9 a.m. An in-
teresting program has been planned.
Auxiliaries should send a registration
fee of $10 to Mrs. Dola Dudley, 529-A
South Fifth Street, Smithfield, NC 27577.

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
LAYMAN'S LEAGUE CONVENTION will
meet with Calvary Church, 409 Deans
Street, Wilson, on June 16. All laymen
are urged to attend.

THE FIRST UNION OF THE WESTERN
CONFERENCE will meet with First
Church, Durham, on Saturday, June 21,
at 10 a.m. The Rev. James Joyner, clerk,
will preach. The moderator is the Rev.
Keith Cobb.

All member churches are urged to be
present or to send their letter and fee.

THE THIRD UNION OF THE EASTERN
CONFERENCE will meet with Snow Hill
Church, located near Mount Olive. The
meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30
a.m. All pastors and laymen are en-
couraged to attend.

THE CAPE FEAR UNION MEETING
has been scheduled for Saturday, June
28, at Steven's Chapel Church. The
planned program is as follows:

10:00— Hymn, Congregation

— Devotion, the Rev. Al Markuson
—Welcome, Host church

— Response, the Rev. Calvin Heath
10:20— Enrollment of Officers and Min-
isters

— Recognition of Visitors

— Reading of Minutes of Last
—Union Meeting
—Appointment of Committees

— Roll Call of Churches

— Report of Denominational Enter-
prises

— Miscellaneous Business
11:15— Hymn, Congregation

—Special Music

—Offering and Offertory Prayer

— Message, the Rev. Harry Jones
12:00— Report of Treasurer

— Report of Committees

— Unfinished Business

— Benediction and Adjournment

— Lunch and Christian Fellowship

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVEN-
TION OF THE THIRD UNION OF THE
EASTERN CONFERENCE met with
Laniers Chapel Church on April 5.

The Convention was opened by the
host pastor, the Rev. Orvin B. Everett Sr.,
who led the congregation in singing, "I
Would Not Be Denied." President Frank
Grubbs then opened the convention for
business and welcomed the visitors.

32

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

While the various committees retired
to take care of business, Mr. Grubbs in-
troduced the guest speaker for the Con-
vention. The Convention was proud to
have as its speaker Janie Sowers, editor
of the Free Will Baptist Press, Ayden, to
share her views on how Sunday School
growth can be experienced.

She encouraged everyone to ask
themselves the following questions
about Sunday School growth:

Where are the youth of the church?

If there are not youth in the church,
where is the church going to be in the
future?

What can we do to stimulate Sunday
School attendance?

In the group discussion which ensued,
these points were brought out:

Christians should love people and be
their friends, as a way of winning them to
Christ.

Christians need to band together to
pray and then to do the work of ministry.

(There were many points brought out
in the discussion. One of the best ways
to find out what you can do in your
church to promote growth is to contact
the Sunday School Field Secretary, Bass
Mitchell.)

THE FIFTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA FREE WILL BAP-
TIST STATE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
CONVENTION was held at Hickory
Chapel Church in Ahoskie on May 8,
hosted by the Albemarle District. The
music was under the direction of Dianne
Riley. The organist was Sudie May and
Libby Taylor was the pianist.

Sudie May led the devotions and gave
pointers on "How to Be Happy," which
was in keeping with the theme, "Happy
Are God's People."

Becky Jo Sumner, president of the
Albemarle District extended a hearty
welcome to the district and to her home
church. Sandra Hargis of the Western
District responded.

Happy Taylor, president of the Con-
vention, brought greetings and thanked
the group for the cooperation which had
been given her during her six years in of-
fice. Mrs. Taylor recognized state of-
ficers, district presidents, ministers and
members from the six districts
represented.

Dianne Riley led the directors of
denominational enterprises into a fan-
tasy garden, where they expressed the
need to cultivate each enterprise with
prayer and financial support. The Rev.
John Williams represented Cragmont;
Janie Sowers, the Free Will Baptist
Press; the Rev. David C. Hansley, Home
Missions; the Rev. Bobby Taylor, the
Free Will Baptist Children's Home; Jean
Ackiss, Mount Olive College; the Rev.
Harold Jones, along with the Rev. and

Retiring Treasurer, Hilda Sasser

Mrs. Paul Grubbs, Foreign Missions; and
the Rev. Walter Sutton, Retirement
Homes.

Rose Raper read a fitting tribute to
Happy Taylor, the retiring president, as
she presented her the Life Membership
Award on behalf of the Convention.

The morning worship was opened with
the hymn, "O Happy Day." Libby Taylor
sang "This Moment Today."

The president introduced Mattie Link,
former missionary to Mexico who
teaches at Farmville Central High
School, to bring the message. She based
her remarks on Psalm 146:5 and three
words: Happy, Hope, and Help. She said
that Christians are happy people
because they are redeemed and
justified. They have hope of living eter-
nally; and as God as their shield, help is
available.

The afternoon session was opened
with the hymn "Heavenly Sunlight."
Dianne Riley sang, "The New Twenty-
third." Estelene Tart gave a memorial
tribute to those who have passed away
during the past year. Sudie May then
sang "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

The committee reports were given.
Afterwards, Alice Barrow installed the
following officers for two-year terms:
president, Sara Willoughby; vice presi-
dent, Jean Ackiss; Secretary, Sandra
Jones; Corresponding Secretary, Ruth
Warrick; Treasurer, Nadine Crocker; Mis-
sions Chairman, Deborah King; Youth
Co-Chairmen, Suzanne Coates and Joan
Little; Study Course Chairman, Nina
Grace Register; Program-Prayer Chair-
man, Happy Taylor; Benevolence Chair-
man, Clara Patrick; and Field Secretary,
Donna Holland.

Elected to serve on the Literature
Committee were Nina Grace Register
and Cathy Hayes; Cragmont Board,
Ve'ma Morris; Christian Education Com-
mittee, Alma Buck; chairman of the Life
Membership Awards, Hilda Sasser.

The retiring officers were recognized
and praised for a job well done, especial-
ly the retiring treasurer, Hilda Sasser,
who had served for 26 years.

AYDEN SEMINARY-EUREKA COL-
LEGE ALUMNI TO MEET: The annual
meeting of the Ayden Seminary-Eureka
College alumni will be June 18, 1986, 10
a.m., in the Fellowship Hall of Ayden
Free Will Baptist Church. The North
Carolina Free Will Baptist Historical
Society will also meet along with the
alumni.

All ministers, family members and
other persons interested in our heritage
and history are urged to attend.
Ministers are asked to announce the
meeting in their churches.

The program will be provided by the
Rev. Emundo Gonzalez, who will be shar-
ing the results of his research on the ear-
ly history of Free Will Baptists in the
New England States. Catalogues, pic-
tures and other items of historical in-
terest relative to Ayden Seminary and
Eureka College will also be on display.

While earning his master's degree
from Princeton Theological Seminary in
New Jersey, Gonzalez was able to do
research in the archives of the seminary.
He was also able to visit several other
colleges that have valuable historical
records on the early beginnings and
growth of Free Will Baptists that
originated under the Benjamin Randall
movement.

Ayden Seminary had its beginning in
1897, grew into Eureka College in the
1920s and continued operation until
1931 when it burned. However, the
dream of a college continued to exist
among the Free Will Baptists in North
Carolina and resulted in the birth of
Mount Olive College. Mount Olive has
advanced to a four-year program and
awarded its first baccalaureate degrees
in College Hall on May 10.

The day's program will conclude with
lunch being served by Pete's Barbecue,
family style, at $4 per plate.

For further information contact the
Rev. Frank R. Harrison, director of
church relations, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365
(telephone 919/658-2502).

CHURCHES AVAILABLE

Otters Creek Church, located at Route
1, Macclesfield, is looking for a pastor.
Anyone interested should contact Benny
Morgan by writing to him at Route 1, Box
316, Macclesfield, NC 27852; or by phon-
ing him at 749-1201.

Oriental Church, Oriental, is looking
for a pastor. The church has a par-
sonage. Anyone interested should con-
tact Sherill Styron, 249-1209; or George
Macon, 249-0220.

June 1986

33

DREAM

(Continued from Page 11)

The Jordan Award was
presented to Quintin E. Barnes,
son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E.
Barnes of Grifton. This award
is given in memory of L. K. Jor-
dan of Mount Olive to the stu-
dent who shows outstanding
qualities of citizenship. Barnes
was chosen by ballot of the en-
tire student body.

The Martin Award, which is
presented by the Robert R.
Martin Family of Mount Olive,
is given in memory of Mr. Mar-
tin's parents, Leon and Bertha
Reaves Martin. Recipients of
this award are the graduating
students who have the highest
academic averages for their
years of study at Mount Olive
College.

Senior Lisa K. Davis,
daughter of Mrs. Linda B.
Shrock of Goldsboro, received
the four-year award with a
grade point average of 3.96.
Two students tied for the two-

year award with a 4.0 average
each. They are Beverly Bryant,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. J.
Bryant Sr., of Rose Hill; and
Cynthia Diana Civils, daughter
of Donald Civils of Kinston.

Mount Olive College has
made tremendous strides since
it began operations in the town
of Mount Olive in 1954. The Col-
lege's sponsoring body, the
North Carolina State Conven-
tion of Original Free Will Bap-
tists with $6.17 in the budget for
higher education, had
negotiated a loan of $25,000 to
purchase an abandoned public
school building.

In those days the old building
was the entire College. There u
was no library or endowment.
There were 22 students enrolled
in the fledgling two-year Col-
lege.

In 1977, the State Convention
requested that the "board of
trustees of Mount Olive College
work aggressively toward mak-

ing the College a four-year in-
stitution."

By 1979, the Convention en-
dorsed a projected timetable
set by the trustees to add the
junior year in 1984 and the
senior year in 1985. The next
years were spent in developing
new programs of study and
recruiting additional faculty
holding doctorates.

Today there are eight
modern buildings on the main
campus of Mount Olive College.
The original building, still in
use, houses the fine arts depart-
ment, the cafeteria, business
and financial aid offices. Mount
Olive is valued at $10 million.

There are more than 40,000
volumes in the College library,
endowment is expected to
reach $3 million this year, and
enrollment has increased to 665
students, 455 in on-campus pro-
grams and 210 in extension pro-
grams.

34

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEARLY SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT
CLAIM RELIGION "VERY IMPORTANT"

Pollster George Gallup has reported
that more Southern Baptists— 74 per
cent— say religion is "very important" in
their lives than do members of any other
major denominational body in the United
States.

Mormons follow closely, with 71 per
cent agreeing religion is "very
important."

In a comprehensive survey conducted
last year and released recently, the
famed pollster reported further that 55
per cent of Lutherans describe their
religion as "very important," followed by
Catholics (54 per cent), Methodists (53
per cent), Presbyterians (46 per cent) and
Episcopalians (42 per cent).

Overall, Gallup reported for his
Princeton Religion Research Center, 55
per cent of the American people say
religion plays a very important role in
their lives, with 31 per cent claiming it to
be fairly important and 13 per cent say-
ing it is not very important. These figures
have remained the same for the past six
years.

Another survey question yielded infor-
mation that 45 per cent of the American
people believe that religion as a whole is
increasing in its influence on public life,
with 41 per cent saying religion is losing
its influence.

It was also revealed that slightly more
than four adults in every ten (42 per cent)
attended church or synagogue in a
typical week.

Figures were based on in-person inter-
views with 7,649 adults, 18 and older,
questioned during five selected weeks
during 1985. Attendance and member-
ship figures came in response to in-
person interviews with 5,093 adults con-
ducted in four selected weeks last year.
Gallup estimates sampling and other
random errors could account for 2 per
cent variation in either direction in
surveys of the size conducted.

THE MISSION FIELD AT HOME

There are more "lost" people in the
United States who "do not have a saving
faith in Jesus Christ" than the total
population of more than 104 of the 106
countries where Southern Baptists send
foreign missionaries. (Southern Baptists
send missionaries to India and In-
donesia, which have a total population
which totals more than that of America.)
Anyone who thinks America is a Chris-
tian nation really does not know the
facts, according to many experts on
church life.

Two-thirds of the total population of
the United States do not claim Christ as
Lord. That means that out of the 239
million people who make up the popula-
tion of the United States, there are 160
million who are lost and without Christ.
Think about this: That means that there
are more people in the United States
who need the message of salvation than
there are in countries like Brazil, Japan,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria and Mex-
ico.

We must all be witnesses if this is to
change.

RUMOR STILL ALARMS MANY

Editor's Note The following article is reprinted trom
The Biblical Recorder and The Word and Way Not only
does it give specifics but it also confirms how
widespread this problem is and how long it has ex-
isted Many Free Will Baptists still do not know that
this is a dead issue.

Old rumors die hard — especially the
decade-old rumor that atheist Madalyn
Murray O'Hair is seeking "to stop the
reading of the gospel on the airways of
America."

The out-of-control rumor is based
loosely on a petition brought before the
Federal Communications Commission
in 1975 by two California men. According
to an August 21, 1975, article, "The FCC
unanimously rejected the petition (that
sought) a freeze on application for
educational television and FM radio
channels by religious organizations."

The FCC held at that time that "as a
government agency, the commission is
enjoined by the First Amendment to

observe a stance of neutrality toward
religion acting neither to promote nor to
inhibit religion."

Somewhere along the way, however,
the number of that petition (2493) was
linked with Mrs. O'Hair's name. As
recently as last week, Word & Way, the
Missouri Baptist state paper, received
two letters asking whether petition 2493
is still a concern and if it is connected
with Mrs. O'Hair. The answer to both
questions is no.

In a 1983 article, Christian evangelist
Bill Murray (son of Mrs. O'Hair) charged
that the fake petitions are being printed
and kept in circulation by athiests to
"make Christians look foolish before the
FCC which must approve applications
for Christian radio and TV stations."

According to FCC officials, letters
concerning Petition 2493 flow steadily
into their offices.

Baptist state newspaper editors have
joined the effort to quiet the rumors, but
the petitions continue to circulate.

Writing about the petition back in
1980, Word & Way editor Bob Terry
challenged readers "to bind vigilance
and enthusiasm with accurate informa-
tion in order to make Christian action
more effective."

Florida Baptist editor Jack Brymer
labeled the petition "a sad commentary
on the church in general and Christians
in particular for this 10-year-old rumor to
still be alive."

Gene Puckett, editor of the North
Carolina Baptist newspaper, posed the
question: "If we cry "wolf when there is
no wolf, can we be heard when there is a
legitimate cause?" His answer:
"Probably not."

And yet, nearly 11 years after the
FCC's ruling against Petition 2493, the
rumor continues. Murray's advice to
fellow Christians is simple and
straightforward: "Never sign any petition
which does not have the name and ad-
dress of the individual or group who
sponsors it. None of the petitions titled
'2493' has a name or address, just further
proof that these are the work of the
atheist groups."

Edited and published monthly by the t ree Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc , 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159 Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000)

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor. The Free Will Baptist. P O. Box 159, Ayden. North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con
vention of Original Free Will Baptists The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16 20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states.
$8 50, $15 50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every Family Plan; A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches
Churches are billed quarterly Bundle Plan; Lots of 25 or more Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a m —5 p.m., Monday — Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday — Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a m —5 p.m., Monday — Saturday.

Board of Directors — Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DpBruhl, De Wayne Eakes: Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray. Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Robert Hadden, Production Manager; Janie Jones Sowers.
Editor of Literature.

June 1986

35

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

DURHAM NC £7706

Psalms
for Graduates

Brent D. Earles

Along with congratulations and best wishes,
graduates are bombarded with all kinds of advice
and platitudes. They're bored with the stale
phrases and the superficial answers that are
tossed their way.

Psalms for Graduates is a good antidote for
all those yawns. It speaks clearly and meaningful-
ly to young graduates' needs and concerns. With
frankness and insight Brent Earles tackles sub-
jects such as self-value, loneliness, serenity, fate,
enthusiasm, and love. He minces no words as he
probes the significance of timeless truths for to-
day's generation. Thirty-one verses from the Book
of Psalms provide the basis for upbeat discus-
sions. Here's an example:

17— Urgency: Time in a Bottle

"Wait for the LORD . . . (Psalm 27:14).

The devotion is introduced by some lines
from the Jim Croce ballad, followed by these
pointed paragraphs:

American lifestyle calls everything urgent. Do
it now. Rush, rush rush! From stoplight to
stoplight, from store to store, from morning to
evening, from chore to chore— we are the busiest
people in the world. We work hard and play even
harder, and we only stop to sleep.

Maybe hurrying in a pain reliever for an empty
life. We rush around to avoid seeing our real
reflection.

"Wait!" is the word for the day. Slow down;
you move too fast. Drink life in. Enjoy the day as it
passes. Sponge up the splendor of living that
floods over the dam of patience.

Patience? Yeah, patience. That's what
waiting is all about. Learning to let God focus
things for you before you snap the picture. It sure
beats dashing through the years, clicking off
memories, only to look back and wonder how it
went so fast.

Patience means taking your time and letting
God take His. Easily said, not so easily done ....

Available through the Free Will Baptist
Press and the branch stores in New Bern,
95 Wilson, and Kinston.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The Free Will Jw$k 1 986/$1 .00

BAPTIST

The Monthly Publication for Today's Christian

July, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 7

3

1 Am an Old- Fashioned American

by James T. Jeremiah

4

Lost Opportunities

6

The Poor Are Not All 'Over There'

by Ted Engstrom

7

Woman's Auxiliary Recognizes Taylor

DEPARTMENTS

8

20
23
26

Mount Olive College
Sunday School Convention
Foreign Missions
Home Missions

28
30
34
35

Children's Home
News Briefs
Youth News
Editorial

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

I AM AN
OLD-FASHIONED AMERICAN

by James T. Jeremiah

William A. Ward wrote, "I believe in
America. I believe it became great because of
its faith in God, its hope for independence and
its love for freedom.

"I am grateful for America's glorious past;
I am awed by its unbelievable present; I am
confident by its limitless future.

"I am not ashamed to take my hat off and
to stand at attention when Old Glory passes by.
I do not apologize for the lump in my throat
when I repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

"I am not embarrassed by the tears in my
eyes when I hear 'The Star Spangled Banner.'

"Like millions of Americans, I want a free
choice, not a free handout. I prefer an oppor-
tunity to prove my abilities on the job rather
than a license to demonstrate my frustrations
in the street. I am an old-fashioned American
with a new-found determination to do my part
to make democracy work."

Freedom is not the right to do as you
please, but the liberty to do right. What a price
has been paid for freedom. Men and women
have given their lives so that we can be free
from the bondage of totalitarian governments.
We are free to live, tc speak, to write and to
worship. Let us pray that our fair land shall re-
main free and we will use that liberty to do
right. There is a greater freedom, however,
that gives real meaning to our political liberty.
It is the freedom our Saviour has provided.
Through His death and Resurrection, the
believer is free from sin's guilt and dominion.
For the first time, he has the liberty to do
right.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free ... If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed"
(John 8:32-36).

LOST

OPPORTUNITIES

Luke 16:19-25

by William G. Glover

In these Scriptures is a lesson
we all should learn. When we
have an opportunity to do good,
we should do it. Tomorrow does
not belong to us, it is exclusive-
ly the property of God.

Act and Live in
The Here and Now

We must all live and act in
the "now." There are Scrip-
tures that affirm this: "today if
you hear my voice" (Hebrews
3:7); "now is the accepted
time" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
When God speaks to us, He

speaks of the present, never of
tomorrow.

When Jesus was asked by His
disciples to. teach them how to
pray, Christ said these words:
"Give us this day our daily
bread and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors"
(Matthew 6:11-12).

There are two things we
should learn from the Lord's

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Prayer; we are to ask God for
our provisions daily and we are
to forgive our debtors daily.

Tomorrow is too long a period
in human life. The Scriptures
teach that life is brief. "It is
like the flower of the grass ; All
flesh is grass and all its beauty
is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower
fades" (Isaiah 40:6-7).

Whatever is to be done should
be done today; tomorrow may
never come. When we have an
opportunity to do good, we
should do it. Opportunities are
like a flock of migrant birds
passing over; if we do not see
them as they pass over, we may
not be able to see them again. It
is not that the birds may not
pass over again, but we may
not be in the vicinity when they
return.

Too many of us put off until
tomorrow what we should do to-
day. Tomorrow never seems to
come, and we have lost our op-
portunity to do that which
should have been done today.

The Contrast of
Our Condition of Life

There were two men travel-
ing along the same road from
birth to death. One was rich,
the other was poor and sickly.
The rich man was well situated
in life. He wore the best of
clothing, ate the choicest of
food, resided on the most fertile
soil, was attended by local ser-
vants, and had friends of the
upper class.

He lived lavishly, received
whatever he desired. Life for
him was like that of one living
in the paradise of Eden. He en-
joyed a life of comfort, joy, and
peace. A life surrounded with
beauty and pleasure; a life
knowing neither poverty nor
unfulfilled desires.

There was also a poor, sick
man called Lazarus. All he ever

knew was poverty. He never
had a place he could call his
own; he never had a table or
enough provisions that he could
sit and eat until he was filled;
he never had a wardrobe that
he could change clothing every
day; and he never had enough
money so he could pay a physi-
cian to heal him. All that he
ever experienced in life was
that of want.

These two men and their dif-
ferent states in life reflect the
condition of men in our contem-
porary society. Those who have
and those who have not. The
lesson we can learn from this
Scripture is that of opportunity
and opportunity is lost. The rich
man had an opportunity to do
good. His earthly brother
Lazarus, who was poor and laid
sick at his gate daily, desired
only the crumbs that fell from
the rich man's table.

Our Opportunities Are
At Our Doorstep

The rich man had the oppor-
tunity to give Lazarus the left-
overs but he did not. He al-
lowed his guest to throw the
left-overs into the road that his
dogs be fed rather than give the
scraps to a poor and sickly man
who lay at his gate.

We have men as Lazarus in
our communities today. Men
that are poor in this world's
goods and poverty-stricken in
spiritual growth. There are
men who are physically sick
and also spiritually diseased.

We have the opportunity to
assist them in their physical
and spiritual needs. Shall we be
as the rich man by throwing our
opportunities out the window of
neglect rather than helping our
fellowman in his physical and
spiritual needs?

The rich man's opportunity
was not in a distant land nor in
another city, but at his gate. It
was within his sight and reach.

He could not say, "I did not
know of his needs or condition,"
for Lazarus lay at his gate. He
could not say, "I have nothing
to give," for there was bread
left that his guests used to wipe
their fingers. He had no excuse
but he did have an opportunity
to help a fellow traveler
through life's barren land.

He had an opportunity to give
shelter to his brother, that had
no home ; to feed a starving and
hungry soul; to comfort a
diseased body that was in pain
and needed healing; and to be a
companion to one that was
friendless. He had an oppor-
tunity to show mercy to a fellow
human being. He merely ig-
nored Lazarus' presence and
condition. His eyes beheld a
body covered with sores which
the dogs licked; he heard the
man as he begged for the
crumbs that fell from his table,
but he would not show compas-
sion or loving kindness. He
turned from his fellowman in-
stead of turning to him.

We, who are the people of
God and disciples of Jesus
Christ, have many oppor-
tunities to help our fellowman.
Sin is colossal and raging in this
country. Crime is on the rise;
the lives of our youth are being
destroyed by their use of all
types of drugs; families are be-
ing separated, either by
unemployment or thoughtless
and uncompromising men and
women.

Shall we be as the rich man
and turn ourselves from the
realities of this day, or shall we
turn ourselves to face the condi-
tions of our day in a godly way?
Jesus has established His
Church to change man and the
conditions that spring from
man's sins. Let us arm
ourselves with the gospel of
Jesus Christ and go about our
task of changing men from
what they are, to what they
should be.

July 1986

5

THE POOR ARE
NOT ALL 'OVER THERE

by Ted Engstrom

S with churches to-
day you could tell a
lot about a church years ago
by whether or not the front
pews were filled. In years
past, it was a common prac-
tice to rent church pews, and
the more you paid, the better
seat you got. Of course free
seats were available, but if
you used them, you risked
public embarrassment. The
practice discouraged poor peo-
ple from going to church, and
our forebears finally recog-
nized that this was inconsis-
tent with the compassion
Jesus has for the poor.

We frown and shake our
heads when we hear about
Christians who held slaves or
locked up debtors or careless-
ly told the poor that poverty is
the will of God. We easily
wear a robe of moral
superiority while underneath
our own social conscience
barely itches.

A number of writers recent-
ly have outlined the scriptural
case for the Christian's
responsibility to the poor.
Some have traced it historical-
ly. In the last century.
Jonathan Blanchard, founder
of Wheaton College, stood for
the downtrodden and firmly
opposed slavery. Evangelist

Charles Finney was a
thorough- going social
reformer. A. B. Simpson, B. T.
Roberts, and Phineas Bresee
each began a work among the
dispossessed— and each
endeavor eventually led to the
formation of a denomination.
(And each opposed the prac-
tice of pew renting. )

Meanwhile, across the
water, the stern old Dutch
theologian (and eventually
prime minister) Abraham
Kuyper wrote as clear a state-
ment on the topic as I've ever
seen. He wrote, "God has not
willed that one should drudge
hard and have not bread for
himself and his family. And
still less has God willed that
any man with hands to work
and a will to work should suf-
fer hunger or be reduced to
the beggar's staff just because
there is no work."

That's why, from time to
time, I publicly reaffirm the
Christian's commission to
minister to the elderly, the
fatherless, widows, aliens,
those in prison, the hungry
and the homeless. We exist to
minister to the poor. We are in
business to bring physical
sustenance and the good news
of the gospel to the victims of
natural disasters and/or

human greed both overseas
and at home.

The difference between
those pioneer reformers I
mentioned and many of us to-
day is that they could see
human need in their own cities
and neighborhoods. They
didn't have to go abroad. Of
course, they had no six o'clock
news or wire service to con-
front them with the sorry
plight of two-thirds of the
world's people. While that
God-given technology has
brought life and hope to
millions, it has often aided us
in looking right past the
hurting people in our own
backyard.

Many churches today fill the
front pews— and anyone who
wants to can sit there. But out-
side the very doors of our
sanctuaries we can still find
some 50 million whom the
Scriptures call the weak, the
helpless, the destitute, the
needy, the dependent, the op-
pressed. To paraphrase
Abraham Kuyper, we can
never be excused if we so un-
equally divide the rich bounty
which the Lord provides, that
one has plenty while another
goes to sleep hungry, often
even without a bed.

Used by permission, World Vision,
June-July, 1986.

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Woman's
Auxiliary

Taylor

During the 1986 session of the State Woman's Auxiliary Conven-
tion, Mrs. Happy Taylor was presented the Life Membership Award.
Following is the speech Mrs. Rose Raper made during the presenta-
tion of the award.

The one whom we honor to-
day is loved and appreciated by
all who know her. She has been
active in her church and com-
munity for quite a long time.

In professing Christ as her
Saviour, she made a strong and
permanent commitment to in-
vest her life and talents in those
efforts that would really make
a difference— a difference in
her life and the lives of those
with whom she lived and
worked.

She believes that anything
worth doing at all should be
done to the very best of one's
ability.

In the time she and I have
been working together as of-
ficers of this Convention many
subjects have been discussed,
many problems and uncertain-
ties have arisen, and she would
always say to me, "What do
you think?" After almost every
such discussion she would say,
"I really don't know what to do,
but we'll pray about the matter
and then do the very best we
can." She would never give up.

You see when she sets her
goals on something that really
count for her Lord, she will find

a way to accomplish what
someone else might consider
impossible. She truly gives of
herself, she gives all that she is
capable of giving. I think the
second verse of the hymn, "A
Charge to Keep" could well be
her motto:

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill,
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will.

Our honoree, Mrs. Happy
Taylor, is the daughter of
Estelle and Webster Riggs; the
wife of John Taylor; the mother
of two wonderful children,
Wesley and Lawanna; and
grandmother to two precious
grandchildren.

She is a member of the
Smith's New Home Church in
Lenoir County, near Deep Run.
She has taught Sunday School
and Bible School, served as
director of Bible School and
treasurer of her church. She
has served as program-prayer
chairman of her local auxiliary
as well.

As an officer in the Eastern
District Woman's Auxiliary she
has served as program-prayer

chairman, field secretary and
two terms as district president.
She also served as director of
the Eastern District Woman's
Conference at Camp
Vandemere from 1976-1984.

Happy taught kindergarten
at the First Free Will Baptist
Church in Kinston from
1969-1977, at which time she
became manager of the Free
Will Baptist Kinston Bible and
Book Store.

At the present time, she is
manager of the Mount Olive
College Book Store and
secretary-receptionist in the
business office of the College.

It is truly a pleasure for me to
present this certificate and life
award pin to our outgoing state
president as she concludes her
third term of office.

Happy, we love you and pray
that God will continue to bless
you and give you many more
years to serve Him.

"So live— decently, fearless-
ly, joyously— and don't forget
that in the long run it is not the
years in your life but the life in
your years that counts"
(Adlai E. Stevenson).

July 1986

7

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGEI

GRADUATION

DAY—

THE DAY

OF

HISTORY

Dr. Pepper Worthington
Professor of English
Mount Olive College

oday is the greatest day in the 259
year history of the Original Free Will
Baptists," said the Honorable James B. Hunt Jr.
to the graduating class of Mount Olive College,
May 10, 1986. "A small, rural denomination
whose members are primarily of modest means,
has built a senior, four-year college that in spirit
and quality is one of the best in the entire state of
North Carolina— and I know them all."

Gathered in College Hall for Graduation Day
were students, faculty, administrators, trustees,
and friends of the College— all charged with an
energy of visible achievement, as if the day, May
10, 1986, was a symbol of a future impact as well
as a fact of a present attainment. Many felt a
part of the whole, a link to the process of becom-
ing an original, private, Christian-rooted college.
A sense of a visible display of a long-developed
vision permeated the entire gathering, as if the
historic day of the Charter Class of 50 graduates
who were to receive baccalaureate degrees was
precisely that— a history- making day.

History is made by people who dream, act,
lead, and "nerve up" for confrontation with the
voices in opposition. Mount Olive College as a
four-year college is a visible tribute to a dream
born into reality through the vision, action,
leadership and "nerving up" of Original Free
Will Baptists and their appointed leader, Dr. W.
Burkette Raper.

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

IMOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE I

James B. Hunt Jr. gives the graduation address.

Hunt Remembers Childhood Church

Looking across the faces of
the students, Hunt reminisced.
"I remember the church I grew
up in. It was a white weather-
board building with a pot-
bellied stove on each side. The
men sat on one side and the
women on the other. We had
preaching— that's what we
called it— once a month and the
preacher was paid $25."

With a sweep of his hand,
Hunt remarked, "Now think
of our beautiful, modern
churches, of the progressive
programs and leaders of the
Free Will Baptist denomina-
tion, of this college. This col-
lege we are thinking of today
started in 1951 some miles
away from here. In 1953 the
decision to locate the campus in
Mount Olive was passed by 6

votes. In just 32 years Mount
Olive College has grown from a
budget of $6.17 and 22 students
to a modern campus valued at
$10 million, an operating
budget of $4.5 million per year
and an annual payroll of $1.6
million, an endowment of $3
million, a 40,000 volume library
and an enrollment of 665
students."

A sense of pride swept across
the audience.

"On this historic day Mount
Olive College graduates 50
students with baccalaureate
degrees and 76 students with
associate degrees," said Hunt.
"This is history; this is a
demonstration of vision, both of
the Free Will Baptists of North
Carolina and of Dr. W. Burkette
Raper, a human dynamo."

Congratulations Extended

Hunt extended his con-
gratulations to all who helped
build the College and he
reminded the graduating class
to think about all the people
who contributed to this his-
torical day— mothers, fathers,
brothers, sisters, husbands,
wives, friends. "Many sacri-
ficed to make this day
possible," said Hunt.

With a smile Hunt eyed the
graduating class. "I am only
going to give you two pieces of
advice. This is a tradition, you
know, in a graduation address.
First, I urge that you not stop
learning, just because you have
graduated from college. I urge
you to read broadly, to think
deeply, to challenge the con-
ventional, and to seek for and
act on the truth. That will be a
measure of your mind."

Then Hunt gave his second
piece of advice. "Second, I urge
you to live your lives with the
kind of active love and concern
for your fellowman that
characterized Jesus the Christ.
An active love engages you in
the world. You have to be out
there making this the kind of
place you want it to be. Don't
make the mistake that
knowledge and learning are the
same thing as goodness.
Becoming a good moral person
cannot be intellectualized."
Mount Olive Vital

Emphasizing the need for a
small private Christian college,
Hunt said," I believe this small
but vital college can be a
unique part in the future of our
state and our nation. We know
that Mount Olive College has a
way to go to achieve the full ex-
cellence of faculty, library, and
service to which it is now com- •
mitted as a four-year college,
as the educational center, the
crown jewel of the Free Will
Baptist denomination, and as
the only four-year college from
(Turn the Page)

July 1986

9

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

The Rev. N. Bruce Barrow, pastor of
Piney Grove Church in Duplin County,
right, congratulates commencement
worship service speaker, the Rev. Marvin
R. Waters, while Dr. Raper looks on.
Waters is pastor of St. Mary's Church in
New Bern.

The Rev. David W. Hansley, "the found-
ing trustee of the College" and first
chairman of the board (1951-1963), prays
the invocation.

The Rev. David O. Vesper, pastor of
Angola Church in Onslow County,
listens carefully to pre-graduation in-
structions.

The Rev. Calvin A. Heath, pastor of
Robert's Grove Church, and the Rev.
Charles I. Barnard, former missionary to
the Philippines, prepare for the com-
mencement worship service.

Tanya Newson, a member of Piney Grove
Church in Duplin County, helps a friend
get ready for the procession.

here to the coast of North
Carolina."

Pausing for his conclusion,
Hunt looked across College Hall
and said emphatically, "Let us
all renew our determination to
take those next big steps with
Dr. Raper and the Board of
Trustees, those steps for the
educational excellence and
glory of God that this fine col-
lege should and must be. We
are proud of you, 1986
graduates of Mount Olive Col-
lege. Our long efforts and
sacrifices are represented in
your lives— as they will be as
long as you live. I wish you good
luck and God's richest bless-
ings."

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

When the conferring of
degrees and awarding of
diplomas began, the historical
process of the baccalaureate
program became visible. As
the Charter Class began walk-
ing across the stage, many felt
the thrill of a dream made real,
of a concept come alive, as if
what the Free Will Baptists
thought possible could become
a fact— an accomplished event
that has implications beyond a
rural corner, a rectangular
classroom, a building, or a
piece of paper.

Alumni Look Back

A picnic on the grounds was
held after the graduation
ceremony. Alumni gathered
around faculty at the picnic, as
if Graduation Day was the mo-
ment for alumni to reach back
for that special feeling they felt
was here at Mount Olive. Tony
Peacock, who now teaches

Enjoying the picnic on the campus lawn.

Lovely ladies! Carolyn Hunt, wife of the
graduation speaker, and Elsie Hunt, wife
of the chairman of the Board, pause dur-
ing lunch.

English at Manteo High School,
said, "I wanted to come back to

see if the College still had its
Christian vision or had gone off
the track with the bac-
calaureate program. And I
think I've found out what I
wanted to know. I feel good. I
like what I see, what I felt when
I came back after Easter and
sat in on an upper level course.
I think Mount Olive has a direc-
tion—a clear one. I feel good."

Scott Nunn, Phil Hansley,
Sharon Hassell and other alum-
ni gathered into a circle to talk,
to capture that sense that this
was a college where people are
not in a hurry to move away
from one another but to con-
nect. The process of reaching
back to recapture an earlier
magic, a younger sense of en-
counter may renew energy for
alumni. This renewal may ex-
tend the roots of the college into
the world — though full of
scars— must be touched.

(Turn the Page)

July 1986

11

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

A Beautiful Day

Everything about Graduation
Day pleased those who at-
tended—the sunshine, the wind,
the procession, the music of
"Pomp and Circumstance"
reinforced by the brass in-
struments of the North
Carolina Symphony members,
The Honorable James B. Hunt
Jr.'s emphasis upon morality in
knowledge, the senior class gift
of a signed Charter Class
photograph to Dr. Raper who
saw a good thing to do and did
it, Lorelle Martin's concept of
change and joy, the ending
prayer beckoning all to "nerve
up" and enter the world as an
active force of love, the picnic,
the excitement of the parents
and the jubilation of the
graduates. Joy!

From Graduation Day comes
a natural truth: desire to be a
beautiful, living form, secure a
piece of land to be, stay in one
place long enough, dig in your
roots, water your soul with a
sense of purpose, "nerve up"
for the wind and cold, examine
the fertilizer to make sure it
should be what it is— and
wait— Joy!

A great day for the Hines family! Now,
David and Teresa are both alumni.

Science professor Lorelle F. Martin,
member of the faculty since 1957, brings
greetings to the graduates.

Dr. Raper displays the framed and signed photo that the first baccalaureate class
presented to him as a momento of the historic occasion.

(Photos by Patti O'Donoghue)

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

The three comrades— Wesley Beddard and Vicky Bell stroll on the downtown campus with Dr. James Coats, center. Coats, their
former teacher and "boss" in the Business Department, currently serves as the first chairman of Mount Olive College's new four-
year business program.

COATS, BEDDARD AND BELL— COMRADES
IN WORK AND STUDY

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information

"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but
only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to
put the other somewhat higher."— Thomas Henry Huxley,

distinguished 19th century English scientist and writer.

If Huxley were speaking to-
day he would be right on target
at Mount Olive College. Faculty
and staff are continually step-
ping higher upon the academic
ladder. But, there exists in the
College Business Office a
unique example that illustrates
Huxley's expression.

"Intelligent, hard-working,
loyal and committed to Mount
Olive College"— that's how Dr.
James A. Coats, chairman of

the new four-year business pro-
gram, describes Wesley Bed-
dard, assistant vice president
for finance, and Vicky Bell,
director of financial aid. Coats
ought to know! He has been
teacher, boss and mentor to
both.

Beddard was a student at
Mount Olive College from 1976
to 1978, and Miss Bell attended
from 1977 to 1979. During that
time Coats was teaching

business-related courses. The
two young people were among
his top students, and he en-
couraged them in their studies.

Coats' "top students" earned
their associate degrees at
Mount Olive College and went
on to receive bachelor degrees
from Atlantic Christian College
in Wilson. During the same
time, Coats began his studies to
complete his doctor's degree.

Later they would again become
(Turn the Page)

July 1986

13

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

associated, this time as
employees in the Business Of-
fice of the College.

Beddard Advances

"At first I had planned to get
my associate degree and go to
work," remembers Beddard of
his early days at Mount Olive.
"It was during my sophomore
year that I decided to pursue a
business degree, and Mr. Coats
suggested that I enroll at Atlan-
tic Christian College." In
December of 1980, Beddard
graduated from ACC with a
bachelor of science degree in
business administration and
business education.

"After graduation from ACC
I already knew I wanted to get
my MBA (master in business
administration degree) and
started the program at East
Carolina University," says
Beddard. "However, I had to
get a job; so I left ECU to go to

work." Taking a job as
manager/developer of a shoe
store in Greensboro, Beddard
occasionally visited his parents
(Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Beddard of
Ay den) on the weekends.

"My mother (Elma Bed-
dard) works for the Free Will
Baptist Press Foundation, and
I got an advance copy of THE
BAPTIST on one of my visits
home," recalls Beddard. "I
looked through the Mount Olive
pages and saw an ad for the
position of admissions
counselor at the College. I
typed a resume that night and
dropped it off at the Admissions
Office on my way back to work
on Monday morning. ' '

From September of 1982 to
June of 1985, Beddard was a
member of the admissions
team of Mount Olive. "I loved
working in admissions that first
year when I was single," says
Beddard. "When I married

Reviewing the budget— Wesley Beddard, assistant vice president for finance, left,
reviews the 1986-87 budget with his new "boss" R. Clayton Everett, vice president for
finance and treasurer at Mount Olive College. Beddard is a member of Stoney Creek
Free Will Baptist Church in Wayne County.

Kaye I didn't want to travel as
much, plus I started on my
MBA again in the summer of

1984 with Campbell University.
It became impossible to work
on my graduate degree and do
the admissions travel that was
necessary. I considered leaving
MOC."

Hearing that the College was
going to create the position of
assistant vice president for
finance, Beddard expressed an
interest in the job. In July of

1985 he began duties in the new
position under James Coats, his
former teacher.

Miss Bell Moves Ahead
"Mr. Coats was one of the
best teachers I had here,"
recalls Miss Bell. "As I com-
pleted my required courses he
was always available if I
needed help." She received a
bachelor of science degree in
business education from ACC in
December of 1981. "I returned
in the spring of 1982 to complete
requirements for a degree in
business administration," she
adds.

Upon graduation from ACC,
Miss Bell's experiences were
similar to Beddard's. "By June
of 1982 I was job hunting and
living at home in Mount Olive,"
she remembers. "There was an
advertisement in the paper for
a financial aid secretary at
Mount Olive, so I applied; but
the position was filled by
someone else.

"The College needed a
manager for the bookstore and
I took the job, which I held for
three months," says Miss Bell.
In September of 1982 I began
working as secretary to the
vice president for finance, Mr.
Coats."

When Betty Cobb, the direc-
tor of financial aid, planned to
get married and move to
another city, the College began
looking for someone to replace
her.

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Discussing financial aid— Vicky Bell, director of financial aid, right, talks with rising
senior Judy Tyndall of Dudley about financing her education. Miss Tyndall receives a
Free Will Baptist Tuition Grant and an Honors Scholarship from Mount Olive College.
She is a member of Piney Grove Church in Duplin County (photos by Patti
O'Donoghue).

"I worked under Betty for the
month of July, and she and Mr.
Coats recommended me for the
job," remembers Miss Bell. In
August of 1983, she began duties
as director of financial aid. In
the summer of 1984, she, too,
had enrolled in the Campbell
University MBA program. For-
tunately, she and Beddard were
able to take classes with Camp-
bell's extension program at
Seymour Johnson Air Force
Base in Goldsboro.

Coats Has "Superhuman" Job

While working on his doctoral
studies with North Carolina
State University, Coats had an
almost "superhuman" job,
serving as the College's vice
president for finance and
treasurer and part-time
business professor. As an ad-
ministrator, Coats was respon-
sible for the operation of the
Business Office, Financial Aid
Office, cafeteria, bookstore and
the maintenance of buildings
and grounds.

"During this time I was
traveling all over the state tak-
ing courses on 'the adult
learner,' the subject of my
studies. I would attend classes
in Raleigh, Kenansville or

Fayetteville once or twice a
week," says Coats.

Tough Job Ahead

The really tough job lay
ahead as Coats, Beddard, and
Miss Bell balanced the impor-
tant mission of helping to move
the College to senior college
status while at the same time
pursuing their graduate
studies.

Although he was working full-
time and approaching the com-
pletion of his doctor's degree,
Coats still found the time to
assist his former students in
their climb upon the academic
ladder.

"Mr. Coats was super," says
Beddard. "He empathized with
us, because he was going
through the same thing. He en-
couraged us, helped us with our
class work, and let us have time
off when we needed to study for
exams."

"When I needed any help on
course work or projects, Mr.
Coats was right there," adds
Miss Bell. ' 'He even let me 'use'
College personnel when I had a
survey to do."

Their graduation days ap-
proached. The May 10 date for
Coats was a mixed blessing.

After working so hard to help
put the new four-year program
together he could not attend
Mount Olive's historic gradua-
tion exercises. He would be in
Raleigh receiving his doc-
torate.

The May 12 graduation date
for Beddard and Miss Bell at
Campbell University was also
nearing and the three com-
rades were busier than ever.

"I had to prepare my final
report as vice president for
finance and treasurer for the
Board of Trustees, ' ' says Coats.
"The new four-year business
program required much of my
time as our first baccalaureate
degrees in business administra-
tion would be awarded on May
10.

"They put me right to work in
the Business Office," says Bed-
dard. "I was responsible for
student accounts, supervision
of the bookstore, maintenance
of the campus, the cafeteria,
working with the Development
Office, and special projects.

"The first week in March I
had a new boss, when Mr.
Everett (R. Clayton Everett of
Charlotte, the incoming vice
president for finance and
treasurer) came. We also hired
a new director of food services
and superintendent of buildings
and grounds. It was interesting,
to say the least! "

"It was one of the busiest
times of the year in financial
aid," says Miss Bell. "We were
preparing the financial aid
packages for the 1986-87 year
and certifying loan applica-
tions.

"We coordinate the federal,
state and institutional awards
and counsel students and
parents on the various types of
aid available, how to apply, and
the process we go through,"
says Miss Bell. "If they don't
have enough aid to meet their
needs, we explain loans that

(Turn the Page)

July 1986

15

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

are available. We try to come
up with the best possible
package for each student."

Coats calls Beddard and Miss
Bell, "Two fine young people
who are just outstanding
employees. You couldn't find
any better people."

The struggle of balancing
jobs and study upon the rungs
of their academic ladders was
nearing a close— for this time.

Dr. James A. Coats, Wesley
E. Beddard and Vicky L. Bell
received their graduate
degrees and a benefit beyond
price— a deep appreciation for
one another as co-workers and
friends in the Mount Olive Col-
lege family.

MINISTERS' INSTITUTE
TO FEATURE
"CREATIVE GROWTH
DYNAMICS" FOUNDER

Dr. Harry H. Fowler, founder
of Creative Growth Dynamics,
Inc., will be the featured
speaker at this year's
Ministers' Institute. The In-
stitute, which is sponsored
jointly by Mount Olive College
and the North Carolina
Ministerial Association of
Original Free Will Baptists, is
set for Monday, August 4, and
Tuesday, August 5, at Mount
Olive College.

"Dr. Fowler offers a pro-
gram of church growth prin-
ciples that ministers can imple-
ment in small, local churches,"
says the Rev. Frank Harrison,
coordinator for the Institute.
"The seminars will help
ministers to study biblical
growth principles, become
more effective growth leaders,
expand their church's outreach
and develop evangelism
strategy."

Fowler is a member of the
North Carolina Baptist State
Convention, serving in a varie-
ty of positions as a member of
the Home Missions Board and

as a youth leader, church con-
sultant, teacher and speaker.
He is also a member of the
North Roanoke Baptist
Association and has served as
vice president of the Pastors'
Conference, on the Missions
and Evangelism Committee,
and as chairman of the New
Work Committee.

His education includes a doc-
torate from Fuller Theological
Seminary, Pasadena, Califor-
nia. He received his masters
degree from Southeastern Bap-
tist Theological Seminary at
Wake Forest and bachelor's
degree from East Carolina
University, Greenville.

Ordained a Southern Baptist
minister at age 23, he has
pastored Baptist Churches in
Stokes, Maysville, Oak City,
Durham and Rocky Mount. In
1985 Fowler founded Creative
Growth Dynamics, Inc.

Recommended reading for
the Ministers' Institute is
Leading Your Church to

Growth by C. Peter Wagner
(Regal Books, 1984). The book
may be ordered through the
Free Will Baptist Press and its
branch bookstores, including
the Mount Olive College
bookstore.

Registration is $20 per per-
son, and churches are urged to
provide the fee for the minister
and at least one lay person
(more if possible). The
registration fee includes a
workbook.

The workshop will be held in
College Hall. Lunch will be
served in the College cafeteria
at a cost of $3 per meal.

Overnight accommodations
may be arranged at the
Southern Belle Motel in Mount
Olive, telephone (919) 658-2502.

For additional information,
contact the Rev. Frank R. Har-
rison, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365; telephone (919) 658-2502,
or at home, 658-9363.

"Developing An Evangelism
Strategy Using Church Growth Principles"

Dr. Harry H. Fowler, Director, Creative Growth Dynamics

MONDAY, AUGUST 4

9:00- 9:30 a.m.— Coffee, Doughnuts, College Hall
9:30- 9:40 a.m.— Devotional

Session #1

9:40-10:45 a.m.— "Introduction to Church Growth"
10:45-11:00 a.m.— Break

11:00-12:15 p.m. — "Biblical Basis for Church Growth'
12:15- 1:30 p.m.— Lunch, Downtown Campus

Session #2

1:30- 2:30 p.m. — "Building Blocks of Church Growth— The Leadership Team"

2:30- 2:45 p.m.— Break

2:45- 4:00 p.m. — "Structuring for Growth"

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
Session # 3

9:00- 9:30 a.m.— Coffee, Doughnuts, College Hall
9:30- 9:40 a.m.— Devotional
9:40-10:45 a.m.— "Seven Steps to the Harvest"
10:45-11:00 a.m.— Break

11:00-12:15 p.m.— "Workshop: Implementing Seven Steps"
12:15- 1:30 p.m.— Lunch, Downtown Campus

Session #4

1:30- 2:30 p.m.— "Developing an Evangelism Strategy"
2:30- 2:45 p.m.— Break

2:45- 4:00 p.m.— "Workshop: Implementing the Evangelism Strategy"

16

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

FREE WILL BAPTISTS
NAMED TO DEAN'S LIST

The spring Dean's List has
been published at Mount Olive
College. The list, which is
published twice a year, honors
students who attain high
scholastic standing. To qualify
for Dean's List students must
be attending Mount Olive on a
full-time basis, have a grade
point average of 3.2 or higher
and must not have received a
grade below a "C" in any sub-
ject for the semester.

Free Will Baptists who were
named to the spring Dean's List
are: Melissa D. Carver of Mat-
thews, Heritage Church in
Union County; the Rev. Charles
Barnard of Goldsboro, Casey's
Chapel Church in Wayne Coun-
ty; Janet Pridgen and Vicki
Pridgen of Goldsboro, Stoney
Creek Church in Wayne Coun-
ty; Kelvin Coates and Terry
Coates of Mount Olive and An-
drew Overman of Dudley,
May's Chapel Church in Wayne
County; Norma Reardon of
Mount Olive, Snow Hill Church
in Duplin County; Debbie
Outlaw of Mount Olive, Rooty
Branch Church in Duplin Coun-
ty ; and Judy Tyndall of Dudley,
Junie Harper of Albertson, and
Tanya Newson of Deep Run,
Piney Grove Church in Duplin
County.

Also honored are: Patricia
Bunn of Pikeville, Pleasant Hill
Church in Wayne County;
David Rigsby of Pikeville, Liv-
ing Waters Church in Wayne
County; Olivia Fountain of
Chinquapin, Bethlehem Church
in Duplin County; Beverly
Rouse of Beulaville, Mount
Zion Church in Onslow County ;
Teresa Hines of Kinston,
Kinston, First Church, in
Lenoir County; Joseph Ard of
Pink Hill, Christian Chapel
Church in Lenoir County;
Roney Bunn III, of Kenly,
Marsh Swamp Church in

Wilson County ; Joyce Wall and
Ruby Wall of Selma, Micro
Church in Johnston County;
Wanda Jones of Pine Level,
Pine Level Church in Johnston
County; Laura Langdon of
Four Oaks, Hopewell Church in
Johnston County; and Oliver
Godwin and Pandora Register
Tyndall of Dunn, Shady Grove
Church in Sampson County.

Others named to the list in-
clude: Franklin Baggett of
Jacksonville, Daly's Chapel

Church in Lenoir County;
Michael Hodges of Vanceboro,
Juniper Chapel Church in
Craven County; Victor Jones
Jr., of Ernul, New Haven
Church in Craven County ; Lori
Elks of Grifton, Elm Grove
Church in Pitt County; Lisa
Godwin of Black Creek, Daniels
Chapel Church in Wilson;
Susan Bass of Kenly, Piney
Grove Church in Johnston
County; and Anne Bass of
Raleigh, Wilson, First Church,
in Wilson County.

APPLICATIONS UP AT MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Applications for new students coming to Mount Olive Col-
lege in the fall are up 47 percent. Confirmations are up 23 per-
cent.

For this reason Mount Olive College expects to have a fall
enrollment of 500 students for the first time in its history.

Applications for the 1986-87 year are still being accepted,
and financial aid is available.

The fall semester begins on August 24, when the freshmen
move into the dorms. Registration is on the 27th and classes
begin on the 28th.

The admissions staff is available during the hours of
8 a.m.— 5 p.m. on weekdays to answer questions and conduct
tours of the campus. The telephone number is (919) 658-2502.
Call us today!

MARY RACHAEL'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
(MARSH SWAMP CHURCH) VISITS MOUNT OLIVE

m

mesmm f

Marsh Swamp FWB Church

First row (left to right):

Janna Nichols, Kesha Liles, Mary Rachael Miller, Dora Bunn, Roney B. Bunn Jr.
Second row:

Joan Parker, Jean Boyette, Doris Rae Fulghum, Doris Lee Boyette, Carolyn
Boyette, Patsy Vick.
Third row:

Janet Nichols, Donnie Parker, Donald Fulghum, Bobby Sid Boyette, L. A. Boyette
Jr., Durwood Vick.

(Photo by Jean Ackiss)

July 1986

17

Saturday

5

Psalms 60-66

12

Psalms 101-105

19

Psalms 144-150

26

Proverbs 23-26

AUGUST
S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
25 26 27 28 29 30

4

is 52-59

11

92-100

18

39-143

25

i 20-22

Friday

Psalrr

Psalms

Psalms 1

Proverb!

tion Month.

JULY 1986

Thursday

3

Psalms 46-51

10

Psalms 88-91

17

Psalms 132-138

24

Proverbs 16-19

31

Song of Sol 1-8

Wednesday

2

Psalms 40-45

9

Psalms 81-87

16

Psalms 120-131

23

Proverbs 12-15

30

Eccles. 9-12

tian Educa

Tuesday

1

Psalms 36-39

8

Psalms 78-80

15

Psalm 119

22

Proverbs 8-1 1

29

Eccles 5-8

ly is Chris

Monday

7

Psalms 72-77

14

Psalms 108-118

21

Proverbs 4-7

28

Eccles 1-4

3

fn t~- 1 >- 00
m --MM

i, moos

CD

13

€-107

©2

27

27-31

Sunday

JUNE

S M T W T 1

1 2 3 4 5
8 9 10 1 1 12 1
15 16 17 18 19 2
22 23 24 25 26 2
29 30

Psalms i

Psalms 1C

Proverb

Proverbs

ISUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

m ill

mm ■ i If

Mi,

m mm

mm

w,

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUNDAY?

Why not plan one in your church? Set aside a
Sunday to celebrate your Sunday School. Start it
in your Sunday School assembly and continue it
in your morning worship service.

Here are some things you could do.
Recognize and honor your teachers and officers.
Let someone give a brief history of your Sunday
School. Ask the pastor to prepare a sermon on
the importance of the Sunday School in the
church. Recognize whole classes. Ask some per-
sons to share their testimonies about how the
Sunday School has enriched their lives and what
it means to them. And why not take a special of-
fering for the Sunday School Convention to help it
in its work of improving our Sunday Schools?

I am often asked, "What's wrong with the
Sunday School?" "Why is it declining?" Part of
the answer is that we do not promote the Sunday
School as we should. We cannot continue to
assume that every person knows how important
it is and its purpose. We must keep the Sunday
School constantly before the people. If it's impor-
tant, then we will promote it, make an-
nouncements, talk about it every chance we get,
and plan programs like the above to celebrate it.

I want to ask you a question, "What are you
doing to promote your Sunday School?" In what
ways are you saying to your people, "The Sun-
day School is very important! You need to be ac-
tively supporting it and involved in it' ' ?

A NEW WORKSHOP

This is a new program we have to offer our
churches. The Field Secretary will come to your
church, perhaps on a Wednesday night, and give
a teaching demonstration. He will teach a lesson
and use in it a great variety of teaching methods
and activities. The purpose is to have teachers
observe some effective teaching methods and be
enabled to use them better.

The workshop is two hours. The first hour is
for the presentation of the lesson. The last hour is
for an analysis and discussion of the teaching
methods used in the presentation.

If you would like to schedule it in your
church, call or write: Bass Mitchell, Field
Secretary, Route 7, Box 471, Goldsboro, NC
27530; phone 734-8378. He has some schedule
openings in August.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Looking for a way to honor those outstanding
teachers in your Sunday School? Nominate them
to be Teacher of the Year.

It's easy. Just write to me and I will send you
all the forms and information you need.

Get the forms and fill them out soon. The
deadline for getting them in is December 1.

The first award will be presented at the
March, 1987, meeting of the Sunday School Con-
vention. All teachers nominated will be recog-
nized.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

The Sunday School Convention has pro-
grams and persons to help improve your Sunday
School. To see just what we offer and how we can
be of service to you, call the member of our
board who is nearest to you. They are: Donald
Coates in Pine Level (934-2727), Lynette Sum-
merlin in Garner (772-3537), Gary Burbage in
Bath (964-4429), Doug Skinner in Arapahoe
(249-1484), C. H. Overman in Ayden (746-3630),
Jack Bircher in Cove City (638-8321), Frank
Grubbs in Pink Hill (568-3035), Elwood Hill in
Deep Run (568-4692), and Marice DeBruhl in
New Bern (637-5468).

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

ISUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTIONI

GOOD NEWS FROM PITT COUNTY

Recently I have been meeting with many of
the Free Will Baptist ministers in Pitt County.
The purpose was to discuss the needs of their
Sunday Schools and find ways to meet those
needs.

After considerable discussion and planning,
the group has tentatively decided to offer a
series of seminars during September. The
general theme for the seminars is "The Ministry
of the Sunday School." The goal is to help Sunday
School workers and the whole church see the
Sunday School as a vital ministry, and to begin
equipping them to better carry out that ministry.
Also, practical ideas will be set forth on how to
minister and how the Sunday School can grow.

Plans and specific programs are being
finalized. Look in upcoming issues of The Free
Will Baptist for dates, times, places, and more
details about the topics to be covered. For fur-
ther information, call Harry Grubbs (756-8585)
or J. B. Narron (756-7609).

A CONSTANT NEED

What for? For new teaching ideas and ac-
tivities. As a teacher, this is certainly a need I
have. From talking with other teachers, I know I
am not alone.

There are many fine publications that can
help meet this constant need. Let me share a few
of them with you.

CHURCH SCHOOL TODAY

Subscription Services
P.O. Box 801
Nashville, TN 37202

This is an outstanding magazine. It has articles on a
great variety of topics relating to the Sunday School. For
example, a recent issue had articles on the pastor's role
in the Sunday School, making the most of your facilities,
how to promote the Sunday School, starting new
classes, ministering to visitors, guiding class discus-
sion, and much more.

One of the sections I find most helpful is "Idea Ex-
change." It shares ideas proven successful in Sunday
Schools throughout America.

It is published four times a year. One year's
subscription is $11.75. If ordered in bulk, it's only $2.35
per quarter. It's well worth it.

JED SHARE

132 W. 31 Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 239-8700

The "JED" stands for "Joint Educational Develop-
ment." It's a publication which grows out of a partner-
ship of denominations doing Christian education
together. Its purpose is to provide a forum for the ex-
change of ideas, opinions, and suggestions in Christian
education.

Each issue gives informed, practical articles and
ideas on teaching and the whole educational ministry of
the church. It too has a section for the exchange of
creative ideas and activities in Christian education. Also,
it previews recently published materials on education
for pastors, superintendents, parents, along with audio
visuals and Vacation Bible School materials.

JED SHARE is published by the United Church
Press. It's a quarterly publication. Yearly subscriptions
are $8. If ten or more are sent to one address, the cost is
$7 each.

(Turn the Page)

July 1986

21

ISUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION!

BAPTIST LEADER

American Baptist Churches

P.O. Box 851

Valley Forge, PA 19482

This is a top-notch publication. It's full of indepth
materials on all aspects of teaching and Christian educa-
tion. Any person involved in Christian education in the
church will find it a valuable resource.

It has five main sections. The first has articles for
educational leaders. The second has materials for those
who teach children. The third concentrates on Christian
education with youth. The fourth has helpful articles for
those who teach adults. The last one has lesson aids for
upcoming lessons in the Uniform Series.

BAPTIST LEADER is published monthly. A year's
subscription is $15.75.

PARISH TEACHER

Augsburg Publishing House
Box 1209

Minneapolis, MN 55440

This publication packs a lot of information in its
eight pages. It reviews new educational resources, has
articles on teaching all age groups, and an idea ex-
change.

It's published ten times a year. It costs $4.75 per

year.

KEY TO CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Standard Publishing Company
8121 Hamilton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45231

This magazine has something for every educational
worker in the church. It has a section for teachers of
every age group. The articles are very practical and easy
for teachers to adapt.

It is published quarterly. For information on cost
and how to order, call the Press in Ayden and ask for Mr.
Cliff Gray.

PRESCHOOL LEADERSHIP
CHILDREN'S LEADERSHIP
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
ADULT LEADERSHIP
SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Materials Services Department
127 Ninth Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37234

These five magazines are published by the Sunday
School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. I
point this out because one of the drawbacks is that they
heavily promote Southern Baptist programs and
materials. In fact, such promotion seems to be their
primary purpose. This makes them of less value to non-
Southern Baptists. However, they do contain some
helpful materials.

Some of them are quarterly and others are monthly
publications. They range in price from $6.25 to $9.50.

Now you might well ask, "Which publication
is best for us?" The best way to answer that
question is to write for a sample copy of each
one. Examine them. Let your teachers review
them. Then you can decide which ones would be
most helpful.

All of these publications are written by and
published by other denominations or in-
terdenominational organizations. I have a
dream that one day we will write and publish our
own magazines for Sunday School workers. The
Sunday School Convention would gladly assume
this responsibility. However, there is the matter
of finances. When we are financially able, we
will make this a high priority. With your con-
tinued prayers and support, we can do this and
much more.

BOOK REVIEWS

Encourage rs: The Sunday School Worker's
Counseling Ministry, by James E . Taulman. The
Foreword is by Wayne E. Oates. It was published
in 1986 by Broadman Press.

Want to do your teachers and Sunday School
a great service? Get them this book! Buy every
teacher a copy and give it to them at the begin-
ning of the Sunday School year. It will change
how they see and do teaching.

This book sees teaching as a ministry and
teachers as ministers. It shows the biblical basis
for this view. But it does more. It gives practical
and well-illustrated advice on how to minister to
persons. It's the best book I've seen on the topic.

Growth: A New Vision for the Sunday
School. It was written by three leading experts in
church growth — Charles Arn, Donald
McGavran, and Win Arn. Church Growth Press
published it in 1980. However, it has been
reprinted five times!

This is the best book I have read on Sunday
School growth. It's full of insights and practical
suggestions. It's an eye-opening book! It's a
positive, hopeful, and encouraging presentation
of how God can still use the Sunday School to
reach persons for Christ. If read and used, your
Sunday School will grow!

wmff/mm

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

WHAT HAS BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR

by Dr. E. M. Lall

Having enjoyed the
fellowship with the Free Will
Baptists in North Carolina and
Georgia, we reached back
home safely around November
20th. The moment we landed on
the soil of our country we got in-
volved in the work of our
church. How much we tried to
keep pace with the work
awaiting us, which could be
completed by the end of March.
Then three more important
works had to be taken and
finalized just recently. Even
though this news bulletin is con-
siderably late, it is an appraisal
of our involvement in the hard
task of four months.

Our heartfelt thanks go to
God for blessing us and our
work in many ways. The im-
possible task was made possi-
ble to us! We could hardly
imagine and really wonder at
how the greatest things have
been accomplished. Our God is
a God of miracle even today
and forever!

The foundation of the First
Free Will Baptist church under
construction had been laid
when the funds were complete-
ly exhausted. When I returned
from North Carolina I was met
with the gloomy situation that
since the construction of the
church had stopped, it was
causing amusement to all sorts
of people, which was disap-
pointing to our people. Myself,
my secretary Pramod March,
and our ministers and deacons
of that neigborhood assembled
in my office and cried out to the
Lord to help us complete the
construction of the church.
Believing that charity begins at
home, we contributed to the
best of our ability and asked the
minister concerned, the Rev.
Puttan Masih, to go ahead with

the planned construction of the
church, while the local
ministers got busy in raising
donations and gifts for the
church building. We were also
in constant effort that the
church building be completed
as early as possible. While it
took some time, the Lord heard
and answered our prayers and
we were able to complete the
construction of this first sanc-
tuary under the banner of the
Free Will Baptist denomination
in our country.

There was urgent need to
complete the boundary wall of
our Sirauli church cum school
building. Though there were no
designated funds available for
this work, the Lord provided
this need also.

There was extra work in go-
ing through the records, deeds
as well as the relevant

documents in respect of three
places where the school
buildings have been put under
construction.

Our church funds to the tune
of $3,643 had gone astray as far
back as in 1984 and were not
traceable in the banks. I had to
be on my toes and the Lord
helped us get the money in our
church account.

Two sessions of evangelism
training programs were held
during March, which were
meaningful to our rural
ministers and deacons. Since
the Free Will Baptist Church in
India is in its 11th year of field
work, the church anniversary
was celebrated with great
triumph. Approximately 600
Free Will Baptists, comprising
ministers, deacons and one
delegate from each of the

(Turn the Page)

July 1986

23

FOREIGN MISSIONS

church congregations, participated in this historic function. One
more worship place built by a local congregation was dedicated for
regular worship service. All our efforts are now under way to seek
recognition of our elementary schools from the State Government
so that they may be treated no differently than the government
schools.

The church in India is thankful to the Free Will Baptists in the
United States of America for their consistent giving, praying and
encouraging the work in His vineyard. It is with this reality that the
work of God is growing rapidly under the banner of our church
denomination.

As in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." The Bible
says we shall reap if we faint not and need not doubt.

LOGOI STUDY PROGRAM FOR OUR
PASTOR'S GROUP IN MEXICO

by the Rev. Antonio Escobar

Mexican pastors involved in Logoi study

The LOGOI theological
studies program has been
made possible by the effort of
the Foreign Missions Board.
We believe this effort has not
been in vain. It has succeeded
in its purpose and design to
bring a better ministry to all
believers.

After the first year of its
beginning, all of our pastors
have been made better
ministers and teachers of the
Word. This being so, we also
believe that we have a better
prepared people, consistent in
their work to obtain a better

service to our Lord. We believe,
too, that it is not only the
pastor's work to guide the lost
to salvation, but to teach them
what Jesus says in His Word
(Matthew 28:20).

And we believe that we now
have that type of minister who
can not only preach and teach
but who is capable of pastoring
a church.

Our appreciation to the
Board of Missions and churches
that have made this study
possible. God bless you is our
prayer.

Mr. John Carpenter, Logoi represen-
tative

EXCERPTS FROM
A LETTER

from the Rev. Antonio Escobar
First, I do want to tell you
that the work here is making
very good progress. Many new
and good things are happening
in new areas. For us it is a time
of crisis; problems with and in
our government have made it
difficult for every family here.
Prices have gone way up, the
economy is way down and there
is very little or no work for
many people. We have all been
affected by the real crisis that
exists. But our Lord is great
and He has supplied all of our
needs.

Second, out of all of this
something very important is
happening; the churches as
well as the pastors are holding
faith and trust in the promises
of our Lord, the gospel is being
preached with greater ferven-
cy, and the Lord is reaching the
lost.

We ask for your prayers in
this our time of hardship, that
the Lord will bless all of our
work in our fields of endeavor
and in the programs that the
churches are putting out for the
lost.

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

State Convention Missions Rally

SEPTEMBER 17, 1986—7:30 P.M.

The Rev. Pio dela Rosa The Rev. Roger Malinao

The Board of Foreign Missions is in charge of the Rally this
year. This will be a very special Rally. We will have visitors with us
from the Philippines for the first time since our work was started
there. The Rev: Pio dela Rosa, president of the Free Will Baptist
Church, Philippines, will bring greetings and a word of testimony.
The Rev. Roger Malinao, president of Palawan Bible College, will
deliver the message at the Rally. The Grubbs Family will be com-
missioned for service to the Philippines. There will also be some
very special music that you don't want to miss.

It is believed this will be the greatest Rally we have ever had.
You can make it so by attending and bringing someone with you.
The Rally will be held in College Hall on the campus of Mount Olive
College.

July 1986

25

HOME MISSIONS!

i

/

WORLD OF SILENCE
SO DEAFENING!

Jasmine Albertson's Story
Written by Francis Nethercutt

If God could not speak nor understand your
language, would you want to go to Heaven? I
had never considered such an idea until my six-
year-old deaf son asked, "Mama, does God
know how to sign?" Profoundly, in his innocent
child manner, Britt was letting me know that
he did not want to go anywhere where people
could not communicate with him. However, the
vastness of this comment apparently lingered
in my subconscious for years, even though I of-
fered immediate comfort with, "Why, yes,
Britt. He does." And life continued for our
family of four like most any other— or so I
thought.

It was not until I earned a degree in deaf
education and began my daily teaching routine
at ENCSD (Eastern North Carolina School for
the Deaf in Wilson) that I gained more insight
into the repercussions of living in a soundless
world: no sounds at home, at school, at church,
no sound anywhere ! This awareness brought no
enlightenment, only a heartfelt burden.

Ours being a Christian family, I saw a need
for not only my child but also for those that
daily surrounded me. But as Britt grew older,
the problem just seemed to magnify itself. He
could not participate in any church activity; he
could only observe from his isolated world.
Too, I was astounded once I realized that there

was no place for him in the church of today . . .
no AFC group, no Vacation Bible School, no
camp, nothing. The deaf were forced to live in
the world of the hearing, yet could not be a
part of it. This revelation urged me and my
spouse to do— at least to try— something.
Frightened at undertaking such a project, we
vowed to do our part by providing a summer
camp at Eagle's Nest. Everything, every ac-
tivity had to be geared to meet the needs of
participants.

Now the word difficult could not possibly
describe the situation we faced. Whereas sing-
ing incorporates forty to sixty percent of "our"
church programs, the deaf hear no music, hear
no words; therefore, we focused on their
abilities. The basic communication there had to
be ASL (American Sign Language) and various
forms of literature. We had camp, and praise
the Lord, we saw lives changed and souls
saved!

Almost thinking our mission had been ac-
complished, I was shocked as reality edged its
way into our lives and the picturesque image
became just that, an image. Camp Eagle's
Nest was a success, yes— but, that was only one
of fifty-two weeks in a year that their spiritual
needs were met! Then as our son became a
teenager, the torments of being an observer in

26

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOME MISSIONS

church services became a paramount concern
for me. He was soon going to have to make im-
portant decisions about the kind of life he
wanted to live, and I knew the church was not
reaching North Carolina's deaf children.
Perhaps that is why I was not utterly shocked
when I found that once most were old enough to
get out on their own, they quit attending the
"ritual" of church.

How fortunate we "Christians" were to sit
in church every Sunday morning, Sunday eve-
ning, and had the opportunity for additional
services or gatherings throughout the week. We
basked in our salvation and in the love of God.
We swayed to the rhythm of the music, were
uplifted by testimonies, enjoyed sweet voices
singing, and heard how God loved us. Then
each Monday I was startled by facing the fact
that ENCSD students knew nothing about all
this— things we Christians took for granted.
"Hypocritical" only vaguely described my feel-
ings. Ever so tormented by these haunting
Mondays, I decided that something had to be
done not only for my child but also for all the
others. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that
when I got to Heaven, those who had not heard
had little chances of being there.

Still confused and concerned, I grappled for
the words to share with my husband so he
would sense the intensity of the burden Christ
had placed within my heart. Not being a part of
deaf society at the school as I was each day, it
was hard for Dale— no, it was impossible for
him to comprehend the magnitude of it all.
Thus, my internal struggle continued and
heightened. For while unaware church-goers
belabored decisions dealing with padded pews
versus unpadded, which Bible translation to
use, choice of chairman, etc., the very founda-
tion of my faith seemed to be crumbling
beneath me.

In total desperation, I told my husband that
I could no longer go to work, teach, and live
with myself while totally ignoring what God
had shown to me. An inner voice echoed loudly
. . . "No one is responsible until they are made
aware of it, but you now know those without
hearing are not being reached! " I longed to ra-
tionalize all this away. The battle within raged
. . . were these feelings of a mother? an
educator? a Christian? What was I to do
specifically? How was I to do it? As questions
bewildered my conscious mind, tears flowed
uncontrollably until I could no longer ignore the
calling!

Ironically, during the anguishing struggle

with my emotions and heart, the Lord was
revealing to Dale the need. Ic was after reading
The Forgotten People by Catherine Brandt that
my husband's soul was stirred. He saw that
truly the deaf had been pushed aside and were
not a part of society. They could not speak for
themselves and it was simply easier for us to
ignore them rather than help. Yes, a few
churches provided interpreters but even that
was ineffective: the deaf communicate using
different sentence structures than the speaking
public and interpreters sign standard
English— really two entirely different
languages. In essence, attending church with
those of us who hear is like being in a service
where everyone speaks a language that you do
not understand. How long would we continue
going to such gatherings?

While the Lord was dealing with Dale, I
was in bitter agony: I either had to quit going
to church— besides, all I did was cry— or I had
to follow the Lord's leading down that fearful,
unsure path. Someone had to offer regular
meetings to share the gospel with the deaf. As
at camp, all had to be focused on communica-
tion with those who could attend. Use their ac-
tual first language, for "our English" is their
second language: Nonhearing people are ac-
tually bilingual. This meant that I had to live in
their world, not they in mine. These services
would have no hand clapping, no music, no
songs. Every word would have to be signed or
mimed!

Both my husband and I felt led to search
for a minister who was himself deaf for that
initial gathering. We had no idea what that
simple-seeming decision encompassed: the
closest one we could locate was in Louisiana!
Was he willing? No, he was beyond that ... he
was eager! The minister came and our first
meeting, a mini-revival, was greeted with en-
thusiasm. So receptive were those in atten-
dance, that meetings have been held regularly
on Friday nights and now a minute few in our
soundless society "hear" the gospel and ex-
perience genuine fellowship!

My husband and I could not let them be
The Forgotten People any longer, and we have
been encouraged by Matthew 25:40: ". . . Veri-
ly I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye
have done it unto me."

We cannot allow a world of silence to
deafen these special ones to the gospel!
Because they've lost their hearing it must not
be that they will also lose their souls.

July 1986

27

CHILDREN'S HOME

Cragmont, 4-H, and Mount
Olive Basketball Camp. The
children had been looking for-
ward to this special time when
they could relax, make new
friends and enjoy a change of
scenery.

The Summer Youth Employ-
ment Training Program began
at the home on June 23. Our
youths age fourteen and up are
participating in this program.
Each child has a specific job
responsibility on campus
whether it is in the
maintenance department, of-
fice or assisting the cottage
supervisors. Their work week
consists of 28 hours work plus 4
hours of classroom time. The
class work consists of learning
to prepare resumes, conducting
mock job interviews, and mak-
ing some career choices.

SUMMER DAYS

The summer days of fun and
games began at the Children's
Home thanks to our Casey's
Chapel Church family from
Goldsboro. Saturday, May 10,
was spent with the children en-
joying a cookout fit for a king.
Hot dogs and BBQ sandwiches,
an assortment of drinks and
cupcakes, cupcakes, and cup-
cakes were happily consumed
by both children and adults. It
was difficult to say who enjoyed
the day most— or who ate the
most! In addition to the cookout
and visiting with the children, a
tour was made of the campus.
The church members were
very impressed with our
recently remodeled recreation
center. This remodeling was
made possible by the State
Youth Convention, who re-
quested the recreation center
as their special project last
year.

Before leaving, the Casey's
Chapel Church members
received current issues of
Children's Home Life and

Martha, Dorothy,
Stephen, and Donna.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

This season of the year is a
time for reflection as well as for
planning the future. It is an
especially exciting and impor-
tant time for many of our
children. The past few weeks
were filled with a piano recital,
end-of-school cookout, school
graduation and promotions.

Debbie, eighteen years old,
graduated from Southern Nash
Senior High on June 11. She is
planning to attend Wilson Tech
in the fall to enter the early
childhood associate degree pro-
gram. She will remain in the
Free Will Baptist Children's
Home while attending school.

Two of our teenage girls, Cin-
dy and Donna B., were pro-
moted to senior high school,
while Loretta and Donna M.
graduated from elementary
school and will attend Southern
Nash Junior High in the fall.

Our youngest child on cam-
pus, Joann, six years old,
graduated from kindergarten.
She has made tremendous
progress this school year. We
are very proud of these girls
and their accomplishments!

On May 20, three of our
residents, Martha, Dorothy and
Donna M., participated in the
annual piano recital at Mid-
dlesex Elementary School.
They have been taking lessons
throughout the school year and
their hard work was evidenced
by their performances.

Just two days later on May
22 the Kenly Young Women's
Club ( Joann' s sponsor) gave
Dean's cottage an end-of-school
cookout. This club has been on
campus on numerous occasions
to spend time with the children
and to share their love. The
children enjoyed the hot dog
cookout as well as the time
spent with these ladies.

On June 11, five of our girls
were discharged from group
care. Four of these children
returned to their families. The
other child entered foster care
in another county in prepara-
tion for adoption. We miss these
girls and our thoughts and
prayers go with them.

After the summer vacation of
June 13-22, most of our children
attended one of three camps:

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

Historical Summaries. Many of them had their names added to the
Children's Home mailing list. We thank them for their loving sup-
port of the Children's Home.

THEY DID IT AGAIN

"Our" motorcycle club, "The
Group," came for its semi-
annual visit on Sunday, June
1. Our children always look
forward to this outing.

Sunday was no disappoint-
ment to our children; Ed
Savage, president of the club,
and the rest of "The Group"
made sure of that. Ed along

with his whistle led the games
consisting of "Potatoes in the
Hay" and a "Wiener Bite Con-
test." When you have thirteen
children looking for twelve
potatoes in a pile of hay, things
really get exciting. The best
part is when you come to the
finish with one potato left and
two children, each with his own
cheering section and the heat is
on to see who will end up the
winner. What? Bite a wiener
covered with mustard, hanging
from a pole by a string, while
riding a motorcycle? "Impossi-
ble!" you say. Well, not quite.
Several of our children, as well
as Mr. Taylor, managed to
master this game.

For our evening meal we had
a "wiener roast picnic," with
all the trimmings/After eating,
"The Group" gave each child
several rides each on the
motorcycles. Our exciting day
ended with the children and
"The Group" very reluctantly
saying good-bye.

SOCIAL WORKER
IN BLOOM

One of our social workers,
Beth Tart, has requested a
leave of absence beginning
June 6. She is making some big
plans for the summer, which in-
clude an extended beach vaca-
tion, lots of shopping and plenty
of eating. In fact, she has
already gained an embarrass-
ing amount of weight and has
had to buy a new wardrobe. But
we are not ashamed of her.
Rather, we congratulate her on
the expected August addition to
the Tart family.

To Beth may we say, we hope
it will be a darling daughter.
And to Jim we say, may it be a
handsome son. Either way,
congratulations ! ( And hurry
back, Beth! )

July 1986

29

NEWS BRIEFS'

THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY AT
MARSH SWAMP CHURCH

honored the mothers of the
church on May 11 during the
morning worship service.

Auxiliary President Dora
Bunn, assisted by Emogene
Boyette, presented potted
geraniums to the youngest
mother present, Beth Strother
Watson; and the oldest mother
present (also the one with the
most children), Rosa Tedder.

Mrs. Bunn also read a poem,
"A Walk for Mother," written by
auxiliary member Lottie Boykin.

A WALK FOR MOTHER

Just suppose as you entered this

church on Mother's Day.
You were asked to sit at the front

if your mother lives
And at the back if God has called

her away.
And as the events of your life

unfold,

"Each year sit where it's proper"
you are told.

The ones at the back shed a few
tears,

As they think back over her living
years.

What comfort she brought when

she was there,
And the togetherness she made

with her love and care.
For each little thing you did that

wasn't just right,
There was a reason you did it for

you were perfect in her sight.
The family's not as close as it was

then,

Her place can't be filled, but you
just pretend.

To the ones up front they're happy

and content,
Because perhaps they'll see her

before the day is spent.
They'll some way touch her if they

can,

But if they can't, she'll under-
stand.

My advice is to think how it'll

be without her,
Remember to enjoy your mother

and never, never doubt her.

For when it's your time, that
walk to the back to make,

It'll be one of the saddest ones
you'll ever take.

THE CAPE FEAR YOUTH
FELLOWSHIP met at Shady
Grove Church on May 3, with 205
people present. Genesis Mis-
sion won the youth banner with
22 young people, and the overall
attendance banner went to
Riverside Church.

The August cook-out will be
held at Cumberland County
Park, beginning at 4 p.m., on
August 2.

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
BOARD OF ORDINATION will
meet on July 8, at 10 a.m., at Uni-
ty Church, located in Wilson.
Anyone having business with
the board is asked to attend.

MT. TABOR CHURCH, Route 2,
Creswell, has scheduled a
series of revival services for
August 4-8. The Rev. Dan Rivers
will deliver the message each
evening. Special music will be
highlighted throughout the
series. The services will begin
each night at 8. Everyone is cor-
dially invited to attend.

PLEASE NOTE

The telephone numbers given
in the YEARBOOK for the Rev.
David Ricks, pastor of Peace
Church, Pinetops, and Tom
Ricks, superintendent of Peace
Church, were incorrectly cited.
The correct number for each is
823-5348. Please make note of
this correction.

CHURCHES AVAILABLE
Wardens Grove Church,

Lowland, is looking for a pastor.
(The church does have a par-
sonage.) Anyone interested in
providing services to this church
should contact Roscoe Rice
(745-3669) or Earl Sadler
(745-3885).

Jackson Heights Church, with
God's leadership, is seeking an
experienced pastor. We have a
new sanctuary with a seating
capacity of 250 people, with an

educational wing and
Fellowship Hall. Also, we have a
three bedroom parsonage
located on the church grounds.
The present Sunday School
enrollment is 86.

The church is located in the
Jackson Heights neighborhood,
approximately 5 miles south of
Kinston, North Carolina.
Through prayer and God's
leadership the congregation
asks that you send your resume
to Jackson Heights Free Will
Baptist Church, c/o Dexter
Barnett, 3402 Barnett Lane,
Kinston, NC 28501; or call
523-2926 after 7 p.m.

MINISTER AVAILABLE
The Rev. James Warren of

Kinston, NC, announces that he
is available for full-time or part-
time church work. Any in-
terested church should contact
him by writing to him at 1000
Poplar Street, Kinston, NC
28501; or by calling 527-1648.

LOTTERY PUSH
PICKS UP STEAM

Opposition to state lotteries
in the South has been
characterized as formidable as
Stonewall Jackson's stand
against the Yankees in the Civil
War era. However, pro-lottery
supporters take heart in the fact
that Stonewall Jackson failed,
and they think the South's solid
stand against gambling is about
to crumble.

With federal revenues to the
states drying up due to Gramm-
Rudman-Hollins and the
pressure for more money to
education, lottery pushers are
looking to 1987 as the time to
make their big move in the North
Carolina General Assembly.
This makes the 1986 legislative
races so crucial. If enough pro-
gambling candidates get
elected this fall, the gambling in-
dustry will have won the war. A
state-wide lottery proposal was
only defeated in a cliff-hanging

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

tie vote in the Senate during the
1985 session. Lt. Governor
Robert Jordan refused to break
the tie vote, thus killing the bill.

Things look bleak for the 1987
session unless more anti-
gambling candidates get
elected.

'Good Chance'

"We're considered the Baptist
Belt, but things have been
known to change." State
Senator J. J. "Monk" Harrington
(D-Bertie) was quoted in a recent
interview in the Richmond (VA)
Times-Dispatch, Harrington
voted for the lottery but then
changed his vote on the final
reading, thus creating the tie.
"They (the Baptists) didn't want
liquor-by-the-drink, but we got it
and it has not been detrimental
at all."

He said with a little more
grass-roots support, a lottery
would have a good chance in the
North Carolina Senate.

If gambling proponents can
silence the pulpits, then the bat-
tle is over and the war is won.

STORES PULL
PORNO MAGAZINES

The Southland Corporation
has announced that its 4,500
7-ELEVEN stores will no longer
offer Playboy, Penthouse and
Forum magazines after the May
issues.

Jere W. Thompson, president
of the Dallas-based operation,
stated that the 3,500 franchised
7-ELEVEN stores will also be en-
couraged to adopt the new
policy.

The Southland Corporation
has been the target of pickets,
letters, and phone calls by con-
cerned citizens nation-wide for
its executives to pull these
publications from their shelves.

Thompson stated that the
decision was finally determined
due to testimony given before
the U. S. Attorney General's

Commission on Pornography —
linking such publications with
anti-social behavior.

Research Damaging

Professor Judith Reisman,
Washington's American Univer-
sity researcher, reported that
magazines like Playboy and
Penthouse show a startling high
percentage of cartoons which
depict children having sex with
older people— 28.8 percent.

During the past 30 years, 29
percent of the cartoons in such
publications also depicted
children involved in a "murder-
ing or maiming activity," accord-
ing to Reisman.

The research project was in-
tended to depict this "genera-
tion's treatment of children,
crime, and violence, over a
period of time."

Such reports as this no doubt
triggered Southland's change of
mind. In fact, some weeks ago,
Doug Reed, spokesman for
7-ELEVEN had said, "We plan no
change in policy." But they did!

7-ELEVEN stores have been
known as the nation's top porno
retailer with sales around $30
million annually. Stopping such

sales will be an additional blow
to the porno industry along with
other troubles.

Circulation Drops

USA TODAY recently reported
that Playboy magazine's circula-
tion has fallen from a high of
seven million in the '70's to a
current 4.1 million. With
7-ELEVEN stores being their
largest distributor, their circula-
tion figures will drop even more.

Also the Playboy TV
Channel's subscriptions have
fallen from 775,000 to a current
680,000 with cable TV com-
panies announcing regularly of
dropping the channel.

The three Playboy-owned
clubs are losing millions.
(Playboy Enterprises reported a
recent loss of $2 million, blam-
ing the clubs.)

On April 4th, 75 Playboy
employees were laid off.

To stem the tide, Playboy is
now offering advertising sup-
port, legal aid and public rela-
tions' help for stores that will
continue to sell the porno
magazines. Playboy is working
closely with the American Civil
Liberties Union to protect por-
nography sales.

WOMAN'S AUXILIARY CONFERENCE
CRAG MO NT ASSEMBLY

Week I— August 4-9
Week II— August 11-16

Bible Study Theme for the Week— "The Tabernacle, a Picture of
Christ"

Afternoon Activities (Tentative)
Tuesday— Asheville Mall

Wednesday— Connemara, Carl Sandburg's Home, Henderson-
ville, NC

Thursday— Biltmore House and Gardens
Friday— Black Mountain

Co-directors— Dola Dudley, Becky Jo Sumner
Registrar— Alice Barrow

July 1986

31

New Resources for Total Growth Learning'

Published by David C. Cook Publishing Co.
Available through the Free Will Baptist Press

New group program helps older teens explore
deepest concerns, find Christ is the answer:

SENIOR HIGH PACESETTER, Year 1. David C. Cook
Publishing Co. Set of 6 programs, $44.95; individual pro-
grams $7.95 each. Available July, 1986. Start with a com-
fortable, open-exchange group format. Add lively discus-
sion starters and shared learning experiences that build
strong group spirit (the right balance of solid biblical
content and just plain fun). You'll help your senior highs
really open up and find the confidence to accept the
challenges they face in relationships, life planning,
Christian living. Each 5-week course is self-contained
with a leader's guide volume that provides expert
resource support, complete session outlines, special in-
and out-of-church activities, reproducible worksheets.
Topic choice: Friends / Faith Questions / How Big Is
God? / Life Choices / Inside the Church / Help! (coping
with crisis).

For preschoolers and primaries, learning about
God doesn't have to stop at Sunday School:

CHILDREN'S CHURCH KITS for Nursery, Kindergarten
and Primary Levels. David C. Cook Publishing Co. Com-
plete Kit for each level, $49.95; all 3 levels, $129.95. Why

have your young children sit restlessly through the adult
service? That second hour at church (after Sunday
School is over) can be a valuable learning time children
2-8 will enjoy and look forward to. Cook's Children's
Church programs help you blend sound Bible teaching
and worship with related (and meaningful) activities that
let kids move and stretch. Well-organized kits provide
programs for one year each: teacher's guides with com-
plete lesson plans, plus all activity aids needed for 52
weekly sessions (patterns for handwork, singing helps,
storytelling aids, games, more). Correlated with Cook
Bible in-Life curriculum, but usable with any.

Give junior highs what they want and need ... for

SUCCESS with your youth group!:

YOUNG TEEN ACTION, Year 2. David C. Cook Publishing
Co., $69.95. Young teens need chances to talk about
what's really important to them. Practical, biblical help
for their daily ups and downs. Lively, energetic fun. And
a caring peer group in which they can feel accepted. You
can accomplish much in all these areas with Young Teen
Action. It provides everything needed for 9 month-long
courses: monthly leader's guide for four or five 1-1 Vi
hour weekly sessions, creative resources (games,
filmstrips, soundsheets, posters, scripts, worksheets
and more). Year 2 courses: Will the Real Human Being
Please Stand Up? / Different Drummer / Guts: The Power
to Say No / Acting Up / The Extra-Ordinary Man / That's
Tough / The Creativity Bash / Use Your Head / The Sum-
mer Adventure.

Now ... a Bible study series for adults that comes
straight from God's Word:

BASIC BIBLE SERIES. David C. Cook Publishing Co. In-
dividual volumes $4.95 each; set of all six, $27.95. If
you're looking for a thorough explanation of Scripture
that doesn't alter the messages God intended for
everyone— and at the same time provides avenues for

Box 159
Ayden, NC 28513
Phone: 746-6128

life application— this is for you. Stressing Bible content,
its volumes are for individual or group study. Each in-
cludes theme introduction, verse-by-verse chapter
breakdown/explanation, key verses, and discussion
starters for thirteen 45-minute sessions. Group use re-
quires one book for each student and leader per topic.
(Leader notes in text.) Volumes: Acts / Thessalonians 1 &
2 / Philippians / Sermon on the Mount / Ephesians / Old
Testament Royalty. Available August, 1986.

Little things mean a lot— when they come from
the Sunday School teacher:

TEACHER SURVIVAL KITS. David C. Cook Publishing
Co., each $9.95. It can be a card to a new pupil saying
how glad you are to have him/her in your class. An award
to a student who has excelled. A letter to a mother and
father. Those are the little things that bring extra sparkle
and warmth to your class. Teacher Survival Kits help you
provide those personal touches . . . plus the behind-the-
scenes planning and record keeping that let pupils know
they're being thought about and help class go smoothly.
Examples to follow and actual materials are supplied.
Kits cover: Communicating / Planning / Reminding /
Rewarding / Recording / Briefing (of substitute teachers).
Three in book form: Preschool Kit, Early Elementary Kit,
Teen Kit. Available July, 1986.

Is church growth a goal? Here is new expert help
for the pastor or lay leader:

STRATEGIES FOR GROWING YOUR CHURCH. David C.
Cook Publishing Co., $12.95. If you reach out in Christian
love to meet the needs of others, your church will grow
naturally. So contends C. Wayne Zunkel, author of this
practical new program on church growth for personal or
group study by the church leadership. Zunkel then goes
on to help the leader learn how to network friends of
churched people . . . form small groups for prayer, study
and fellowship . . . train church members to share their
faith . . . develop outreach programs to reach specific
community groups . . . even start new churches (on
slender budgets). A sequel to Zunkel's Growing the
Small Church, Strategies can also be used independent-
ly. Includes plans for 12 one-hour sessions, reproducible
worksheets, transparency designs. Available July, 1986.

New series equips, motivates members to take a
more active part in your church's ministry:

LAY ACTION MINISTRY PROGRAM. David C. Cook
Publishing Co. Individual volumes $4.95 each; set of all
four, $18.95. How your church can grow when your peo-
ple have really mastered the fundamentals of their faith!
Lay Action Ministry Program (LAMP) covers the basics
. . . and imparts a sense of each member's importance to
church growth overall. For both new and longstanding
members. Each volume has 12 lessons (one quarter) for
adult Bible study classes, Sunday School, midweek
meetings, self-instruction. Volumes: Welcome to the
Church (faith basics) / Welcome to Your Ministry (using
one's special gifts) / How to Study the Bible— Part 1
(study tools) / How to Study the Bible— Part 2 (continued
practice plus in-depth study of Ephesians. Available Oc-
tober, 1986.

32

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

To: All Ministers of the North Carolina State Convention of Original Free Will Baptists
Re: Pre-Registration for Cragmont Ministers' Conference, July 21-24, 1986

Dear Fellow Minister:

The Executive Committee of the Ministerial Association wishes to invite you to come be with us at Crag-
mont Assembly on July 21-24 for our annual Ministers' Conference. If you plan to attend this Conference,
please send $10 and the registration form below. (Make check payable to N.C. Ministerial Association.)
We wish to have your pre-registration by July 16, 1986.

This year's program is planned as follows:

Monday: 7:30 P.M. The Rev. Noah Brown

Tuesday: 9:30 A.M. The Rev. C. H. Overman

10:45 A.M. The Rev. James Joyner

7:30 P.M. Memorial Service and Business
Meeting

Wednesday: 9:30 A.M. The Rev. Ronnie Hobgood

10:45 A.M. The Rev. Leonard Woodall

7:30 P.M. The Rev. David Hines

Thursday: 8:00 A.M. The Rev. A. Graham Lane

"Holy Communion'
Worship Service
Worship Service

Worship Service
Worship Service
Worship Service
Prayer Breakfast

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR MINISTERS' CONFERENCE
July 21-24, 1986

Name Phone

Address

Please indicate your building preference (rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis):

Main Building Motel Floyd House Dorm

Do you have any existing health problems that would prevent you from being on the second floor? Yes No (The ground

floor of the Main Building will be reserved for those with health problems.)
*Name those you wish to room with if you stay in the motel or in the Main Building.

Note: All ministers' wives who stay on campus will room in the dorm behind the Dining Hall. ( ) Check here if your wife will be with
you.

Mail your registration form and $10 deposit (by July 16) to:

Calvin A. Heath
Route 1, Box 288
Dunn, NC 28334

Make checks payable to N.C. Ministerial Association.

Christian Flag Service at your funeral? Yes No

(new registration each year)

If you are unable to attend the Conference and wish to join the North Carolina Free Will Baptist Ministerial Association, please send
$5 membership dues to Calvin A. Heath at the above address.

The Ministerial Association encourages you to contribute toward our $5,000 pledge to the Cragmont Building Fund. Gifts should be
sent to Ralph Sumner, P.O. Box 445, Bridgeton, NC 28519.

July 1986

33

Youth Take Honors

'till
"'''ftjp

One of the highlights at the State Youth Convention is the Awards Presentation held on
Saturday evening at the Convention. At that time state winners are recognized. That
sounds too simple, for by that time, those who have competed on the state level have
already won local and district competitions— and now they have their eyes set on state
recognition. Each of those who competes during the Convention is a winner; but it is win-
ning top honors that every competitor dreams of. Following is a list of this year's winners
in the various categories of competition.

BIBLE BOWL

AFC: 1st Place— Beaverdam Church; Pee Dee Conference

2nd Place— Arapahoe Church; Eastern Conference

YFA: 1st Place— King's Cross Roads Church; Central Conference

2nd Place— Beaverdam Church; Pee Dee Conference

CHRISTIAN WRITING

AFC: 1st Place— David Pearce; Hickory Chapel Church; Albemarle Conference

2nd Place— Eric Sullivan; First Church, Wilson; Western Conference

YFA: 1st Place— Jim Herman; Tarboro Church; Central Conference

2nd Place— Terry Thorne; Soundside Church; Albemarle Conference

LESSON PRESENTATION

AFC: 1st Place— Priscilla Watson; Little Rock Church; Western Conference

2nd Place— Anna Shirley; Ormondsville Church; Central Conference

YFA: 1st Place— Loretta Morris; Marlboro Church; Central Conference

2nd Place— Allison Rollins; Pleasant Hill Church; Western Conference

PUBLIC SPEAKING

1st Place— Kelly Britton; Hickory Chapel Church; Albemarle Conference

AFC
YFA

TALENT

Cherubs:

AFC:

YFA:

1st Place— Kevin Eakes; Little Rock Church; Western Conference
2nd Place— Dawn Garner; Marlboro Church; Central Conference

1st Place— Sandy Plain Cherubs; Sandy Plain Church; Eastern Conference
2nd Place— Samuel Jones; King's Cross Roads Church; Central Conference

1st Place— The P. G. Quartet; Pleasant Grove Church; Cape Fear Conference
2nd Place— Melanie Wainwright; Bethany Church; Central Conference

1st Place— Young Inspirations; Tarboro Church; Central Conference

2nd Place— Sandy Plain YFA Singers; Sandy Plain Church; Eastern Conference

ART AND CRAFTS

Cherubs: 1st Place— Scott Pearce; Hickory Chapel Church; Albemarle Conference
2nd Place— Ben Manning; Hickory Grove Church; Central Conference

AFC: 1st Place— Russ Overton; Hickory Chapel Church; Albemarle Conference

2nd Place— Mary Edie Mason; Haymount Church; Cape Fear Conference

YFA: 1st Place— Kathy Jo Gurganus; Beaufort Church; Eastern Conference

2nd Place— Janet Corbet

34

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL!

UNSUNG MELODIES

No one cared. He was just another drunk be-
ing admitted to the hospital. A charity case, at
that, one among hundreds to come that day. He
had been brought in from the Bowery— another
synonym for filth, loneliness, cheap booze, drugs
and disease. The details of what happened were
rather fuzzy; but no one really seemed to care.

His recent past was the antithesis of his
earlier years. The Bowery became the dead-end
street of an incredible life. But all that was over.
He "lived" in a twenty-f ive-cents-a-night
flophouse, the kind of place you hear of but never
want to see . . . "full of stinking humanity too
miserable to describe." He was one among many
whose health and hope were gone.

On that chilly winter morning, a mere shell of
a man who looked twice his age staggered to the
wash basin and fell. The basin toppled and shat-
tered. He was found lying in a heap, bleeding from
a deep gash in his throat. His forehead was
bruised and he was semiconscious. The doctor
who was called used black sewing thread to
suture the wound— that would do; remember, he
was in the Bowery.

Dumped into a paddy wagon, the man was
dropped off at the hospital, where he died three
days later— still unknown.

The friend who was looking for him was
directed to the local morgue. There, among
dozens of other colorless, nameless corpses with
tags on their toes, he was identified. Strange,
though, when they were scraping together his

possessions, they found enough coins for another
night in the flophouse and a piece of paper with
five words on it, "Dear friends and gentle hearts."

Why would a forgotten drunk carry around a
line of lyrics? Maybe he believed he still had it in
him. Maybe there was still the mind of a genius in
the body of that bum. You see, once upon a time,
before his tragic death at the age of thirty-eight,
he had written songs that literaly made the whole
world sing, songs like "Camptown Races," "Oh!
Susanna!," and "My Old Kentucky Home."

The situation of Stephen Foster reminds me
of a few lines old preachers once quoted:

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine;

A game— and he travels on.
He's "going" once, and "going" twice,

He's "going" and almost "gone."

Almost. Almost gone. Until someone cares.
And steps in. And stoops down. And, in love,
rebuilds a life, restores a soul, rekindles a flame
that sin snuffed out, and renews a song that once
was there.

A lonely melody needs to return into the lives
of countless millions. Some might look like bums,
but they may have a song dying in their hearts
because nobody knows and nobody cares.

Do you?

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden.
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor. The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159. Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years. $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states,
$8.50. $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches.
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a m —5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee. Vice President, Joe Griffith. Secretary: Ruth Taylor. Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards. Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes. Darren Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray. Executive Director; Bobby Pennington. Financial Director; Janie Jones Sowers. Editor of Literature.

July 1986

3d

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

DURHAM NC £7706

Keep your mind in shape this,
summer. Read inspirational,
entertaining books from

Free Will Baptist Press
811 North Lee Street
Ayden, NC 28513

Read 'em While It's Hot!

(Its branch bookstores are in
New Bern, Wilson, and Kinston.)

36

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

August, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 8

Marks of a Christian

by the Rev. David W. Hansley

Vineyard of the Slothful

by Thomas Ricks

Looking for a Cloud

by R. G. Puckett

DEPARTMENTS

10 Children's Home

13 Foreign Missions

18 Home Missions

19 Mount Olive College

22 Cragmont

24 Sunday School Convention

26 News Briefs

29 Editorial

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

A little boy asked his father, "What is a
Christian?" The father explained to his son just
what a Christian should be according to the
Scriptures. But he explained so well that, when
he had finished, the boy answered, "Father,
have I ever seen a Christian? ' '

I have a real concern about that boy's
question, because, in this modern, mixed-up,
and confused world, thousands are asking the
same question: "What should be the identifying
marks of a Christian? What is a Christian
anyway?"

So-called Christians today are so much like
the sinful world that it is almost impossible to
distinguish them from this blind, skeptical, and
befuddled sinful world.

Even the best church members have
become so entangled in the problems of making
a living, and with such a concern over secon-
dary matters, that the train on which they are
riding has entered the dark tunnel of despera-
tion, and the candlelight of their Christian ex-
perience has gone out, and the poor helpless
traveler has become lost among the baggage of
disappointment and despair, to the extent that
his Christian influence is ineffective.

Much has been said, and much is being
said today about the Early Church. However,
there are two distinctive features we wish to

point out about it:

First, it was inclusive.
Second, it was exclusive.

Although the Early Church had an open
door, it was very careful to admit into its ranks
only those persons who manifested a change of
life by faith in Christ through repentance, and
a consecrated willingness to give their lives
and their possessions to be used to the glory of
the risen Lord, notwithstanding the hatred and
persecution of the Great Sanhedrin of the Jews,
and the cruelty of the sword-brandishing
Romans. As a result, the standards they main-
tained and the sacrifices they were called upon
to make made it no easy matter for a person to
join in with that circle that had become iden-
tified as a Christlike people, and had become
known as Christians.

The Early Church from the very beginning
did not hesitate to exclude from its midst all
those who tolerated, in the least, sin in their
lives.

When serious trouble first showed up
through Ananias and Sapphira it was dealt with
suddenly, definitely, and head-on. There was no
soft-soaping of the issue and no apology made.

When immorality showed up in the Corin-
thian Church, Paul delivered the offender to
(Turn the Page)

August 1986

3

the devil for the destruction of his flesh. This
action was in keeping with our Lord's teaching
concerning discipline in the eighteenth chapter
of Matthew. Certainly, it was to be done in
love, and the person overtaken in a fault was to
be restored through the faithful efforts of the
Christians, and Paul was ready to recommend
the restoration of that backslidden and fallen
man after he had repented and shown that he
was willing to live under the rules of Christian
principles.

None the less, sin was not passed over nor
excused as we often do today in the Church by
allowing liars, gamblers, drunkards, homosex-
uals, and moral perverts to become members,
and be at home in Zion without repentance and
a change in their sinful ways. Often they are
allowed to fill prominent places in the Sunday
School, and on boards and committees of the
Church and denomination. The most alarming
thing is, a number of those moral perverts and
homosexuals, somehow slip, by hook or crook,
into the ministry without knowing that those
who carry the Word of God, and bear the Holy
Vessels of the Church, should live a clean, holy,
and separated life unto the Lord.

Furthermore, to add to the complexity of
the situation, we ministers have become hire-
lings instead of faithful shepherds, and the
sheepfold has become a den of wolves and a
hiding place for the servants of Satan.

I will grant that the situation is a critical
and complicated problem, and that it can only
be dealt with through an humble and forgiving
heart, seasoned with a tremendous amount of
"kneeology." However, this does not mean that
the Church should lower the bars at its door
and receive into its membership those who do
not have on the proper wedding garment, and
without the proper marks to identify them as
Christians.

I can hear someone saying, "What would
people think today if we took the stand concern-
ing these matters as you seem to indicate?"
May we note what happened in the Early
Church when it took its stand as indicated
earlier. It had "favour with all the people, and
the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved" (Acts 2:47).

The Church that stands for truth and
righteousness in Jesus Christ and in the power
of the Holy Spirit will win the respect of all
people, and will be the means that God uses to
win some of the lost to Jesus Christ.

In the words of Dr. Vance Havner, "We
have driven people away by trying to attract
them. We have lost favor in trying to win favor.

The world is sick and disgusted with the
Church making a clown of itself, trying to talk
the slang of this age, running a third-rate
amusement park, playing games, and putting
on rummage sales. The Church, it has been
said, is not running a show-boat but a life-boat,
and we make ourselves ridiculous in trying to
compete with the world. The preacher and
Church that stands for God and righteousness
will be magnified."

Therefore, it is time for the Church and its
ministers to face up to the fact that there are
certain marks of identification which should be
maintained by all who are called Christians,
and by all organizations, enterprises, and in-
stitutions sponsored and supported by them.

With this background may we consider a
few identifying marks of a true and faithful
Christian.

I. For a Person to Be Identified as a Christian
He or She Must Be Saved and Know Christ
as His/Her Saviour

1. They must be redeemed through the
blood of Jesus Christ.

2. They must be "born again." Jesus told
Nicodemus that unless he was born again
he could not SEE the kingdom, and again,
"except a man be born again he could not
ENTER the kingdom" (John 3:3-8).
Please underscore SEE and ENTER, be-
cause they are the pivotal words used by
Jesus in His declaration to this man for
the great need of his life. This is the great
need for people today who desire to be-
come a member of the circle known as the
Children of God.

II. For a Person to Be a Christian He or She
Must Be Sure of His/Her Salvation

1. This is more than make-believe. It re-
quires faith, hope, and assurance.

2. Paul said, "... for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day" (2 Timothy
1:12).

III. A Christian Must Be Surrendered to the Will
of God

To be surrendered to the will of God is
easier said than done. I must confess that
this has been the most difficult thing in
my Christian life. Furthermore, I have
not always understood what God's will
was for me. However, it is the duty of
every Christian to pray, "Almighty God,
in the name of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ,
may Thy will be done in and through me.
Amen."

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

IV. A Christian Must Be Separated From Sin
Unto Life in Christ

As the saying is, "You may not be able
to keep a bird from lighting on your head,
but you can keep him from building a nest
in your hair."

V. A Christian Must Be Spirit-filled

1. This is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit
and the third Person, the great Godhead
which was sent by the Father and the Son
to give life, strength, and divine guidance
to all who believe and trust in Christ.

2. It goes without saying, if we try to serve
God without the presence of, and the guid-
ance of the Holy Spirit, it will all be in
vain.

VI. A Christian Must Be Sound and Unmovable
in Faith, Doctrine, and Practice

1. This includes believing that the Holy Bible
is the Word of God to mankind, and ac-
cepting it as the only sufficient and infall-
ibly true rule and guide to salvation and
all Christian worship and service. It also
includes knowing, believing in, practicing
and upholding the doctrines of the denom-
ination of which you and your Church are
members, in this case, the Original Free
Will Baptist. If for any reason you are not
satisfied with this doctrine you should go
elsewhere. The fact is we do not need
you, because you will only be a trouble
maker, and we have enough of that with-
out your contribution.

2. A true and tried minister of our Church
told me this story, "The youth of the
Church which I was pastoring planned to
have Communion Service. As a result, I
asked them if they would have me as pas-
tor and the deacons of the Church to ad-
minister the same for them, and they
said, 'No!' Therefore, I had to deny their
request." This faithful minister was cor-
rect in what he did according to the rules
of our Church. How many times does it
happen that a number of pastors conduct
the Holy Communion Service without the
basin and towel being included? I have
heard that in some very high places of our
Church some such things are taking place.
If you are allowing any of the above, you
are doing wrong as an Original Free Will
Baptist, and you should study the doctrine
and rules concerning the same.

VII. A Christian Must Be Undivided in His or
Her Allegiance

To be divided in one's allegiance between

God and Satan, of all conditions, is to be
most miserable. It is absolutely impossi-
ble to serve God and Satan at the same
time. It is a condition of make-believe,
and foolhardiness, which in the end will
lead to total destruction. It is required
that a person make a choice for God and
Satan, because one cannot hold to God
with one hand, and to Satan with the
other.

VIII. A Christian Must Abound in the Work of
Christ

Abound means to be filled up with, to be
healthy in or prosperous in, opulent and
wealthy in the service of Christ through
His Church.

IX. A Christian Must Live in the Peace and Joy
of Christ

There is nothing in all the world that can
give to the minds, hearts, and souls of
men and women the same joy and peace
as knowing and serving Christ.

CONCLUSION:

1. If you have these identifying marks you
will not be barren nor unfruitful, and the
world around you will call you Christlike
or Christian.

2. Christ had His identifying marks, and
Paul the Apostle had his. How about you?

This poem, and I shall close.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU

(Author Unknown)

If none but you in the world today
Had tried to live the Christlike way,
Could the rest of the world look close at you
And find the path that is strait and true?

If none but you in the world so wide
Had found the Christ for his daily guide,
Would things you do and the things you say
Lead others to live in His blessed way?

Ah, friend of the Christ, in the world today
Are many who watched you upon your way,
And look to the things you say and do
To measure the Christian standard true;

Men read and admire the Gospel of Christ

with its love so unfailing and true,
But what do they say and what do they think
Of the gospel according to you?

You are writing each day a letter to men
Take care that the writing is true;
'Tis the only gospel some men will read,
That gospel according to you.

August 1986

5

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

not understand? First, they do not understand
the meaning of life. The essence of life as God
intended it to be is to grow, to progress and ad-
vance, to constantly increase our knowledge
and abilities. The slothful don't realize this.
Second, the slothful do not understand being in
a right relationship with God. One does not
become perfect the moment one accepts Christ
as Saviour; in order to be in God's will, we
must make a conscious effort every day to
draw nearer to our Lord. The slothful fail to
see this.

What are the results of laziness? The fields
and vineyards mentioned in the Scripture
represent our God-given life, talents, and
abilities. Like farmland, such gifts are a waste
if not cultivated. The slogan "Use it or lose it"
definitely applies to those talents with which
we serve the Lord.

We are often saddened and disgusted to
hear Christians make statements such as, "It's
for the Lord; it doesn't have to be perfect,"
when talking about an opportunity they have to
serve the Lord. Granted, the Father doesn't ex-
pect perfect work from imperfect human be-
ings, but He does expect our best. Whether it's
music or teaching, or some other form of ser-
vice, we should follow Solomon's advice:
"Whatever your hands find to do, do it with
your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Christ gave
His very life for us ; are we going to let laziness
prevent us from giving our best to Him?

Another result of slothfulness : The stone
wall, which represents defense, is broken down.
The slothful have no defense against Satan's at-
tacks, or against spiritual and physical
weakness. The forces of evil will constantly
assault our relationship with Christ with
weapons such as fear and doubt, and we must
work to defeat them.

We as Christians are also expected to care
for our physical bodies as well as our souls. Yet
the lazy leave themselves with no defense
against physical weakness and poor health. Our
country is caught up in a "fitness craze," but
many Christians, because of sloth, are left
behind. This makes no sense in light of the
question poised in 1 Corinthians 6:19—". . . do
you not know that your body is the temple of
the Holy Spirit who is in you? . . . ." We must
realize that physical sloth is just as much a sin
as spiritual sloth.

One thing should be noted about the text. It
says that the results mentioned before come
about after only a "little" sleep. The thorns
grow over the vineyard and the stone wall is
broken down after only a "little" rest, not a

long period of neglect. Of course, the Creator in
His wisdom made a certain amount of rest part
of life. These results come about after that lit-
tle extra, unneeded inactivity.

The Scripture goes on to say that the
slothful are powerless when poverty, both
spiritual and material, take over. After becom-
ing used to being lazy, they are unable to do
anything against this want, which the text com-
pares to an armed robber. In short, spiritual
and material poverty are easier to prevent
than to cure.

We have looked at the problems and results
of slothfulness. But just what is the other side
of the coin— the opposite of slothfulness? The
opposite of spiritual slothfulness is following a
simple formula made up of three basic com-
ponents. The first is the in-depth, daily study of
God's Word, the Bible. The written Word is a
great gift to us and we should utilize it to the
fullest. The second component is prayer. One
cannot really know another person without
talking to that person. The same principle
holds true in our relationship with our Heaven-
ly Father. We should spend time daily in
prayer, giving up our needs and struggles to
God, returning thanks to Him, and making in-
tercession for others. The third component of
the formula is good works. We are continually
being given opportunities to serve the Lord in
this way, but unfortunately we often pass them
up. It is good works which prove our faith; this
is an important part of the "anti- sloth
formula."

What is the opposite of physical
slothfulness? This can also be summed up in a
three-part formula. The first part is working to
develop, to cultivate the raw talent Father God
gave us. The second part is to concentrate on
doing our very best at whatever God gives us
to do, never letting the fact of our Christianity
make us second-rate. The third component is
physical exercise to keep the Spirit's
temple— our bodies— in health.

There is much to be done and much to
learn in this world. We must be always active,
in the ways mentioned before, to keep our
spirits, minds, and bodies in good condition,
and our talents and opportunities cultivated.
People the world over and here in our own
community are going hungry. Many around us
are passing into the next world without know-
ing that Christ loves them and can redeem
them. Many of our churches are slowly, surely
dying. Our own bodies and minds are falling in-
to weakness and disrepair. Do you think that
we can afford to give in to slothfulness?

August 1986

7

LOOKING FOR A CLOUD

by R. G. Puckett

Droughts are not new
to mankind, not even
to God's people. Through the
years, the absence of rain at
times has threatened the
economy and the very ex-
istence of the people !

All across North Carolina
those times have come to us
again. The prolonged drought is
on the front page of every
newspaper, whether daily or

weekly. Charlotte, Raleigh,
Smithfield, North Wilkesboro,
etc.— the news is about the
same. Farmers and related
businesses have fallen on hard
times. The Journal- Patriot of
North Wilkesboro said it well
for all: "Wilkes County crops
haven't been knocked out by
the prolonged drought and
heat, but they are staggering

In some areas the crops are
virtually wiped out. Vegetable

plants set out by the thousands
are surviving only by the hun-
dreds. Chicken growers are los-
ing birds by the hundreds daily,
thousands by the week. Cattle
are being sold before they
perish. Lake levels are low,
ponds are drying up, wells on
farms have been pumped dry
and cities and towns have
begun water rationing. It is
serious times! Estimates in-
dicate that 2,000 farmers are

(Continued on page 28 )
THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CONVENTION SCHEDULED

The Seventy-fourth Annual Session of the
North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists will convene on September
17-18, at College Hall, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina. In conjunction with

the Convention, the Annual Evangelism Rally
will be held on Tuesday evening, September 16;
and the Annual Missions Rally will be held on
Wednesday evening, September 17. This year's
theme is "Preparing to Serve."

DELEGATES

Delegates are the official representatives of
each local church to the North Carolina State
Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. Each
delegate may represent as many as 100
members of a local church. It is their votes, com-
bined with the votes of ministers, conference
representatives, and Convention officials, that
determine the business of our Convention. These
people— your delegates— are important!

Delegates should be elected or chosen based
on their ability to represent your church and its
people, rather than on the basis of extra time and
a willingness to attend. Delegates should be
aware of their selection as your representatives
and that you are counting on them to represent
you! It is impossible for you to be fully
represented without the presence of your
delegates throughout the entire Convention.
Representation on one day only will not give you

a voice in the total operation of the Convention,
because business is conducted on both days.

Many times the local church is faced with a
problem : those who they would like to represent
them are not available. Perhaps if the impor-
tance of your representation is explained and
demonstrated in the selection, more would be
willing to serve. The church might also consider
paying the expenses that a person would incur in
serving as a delegate. Perhaps the expenditure
of funds and the request for a report following
the Convention will help keep the importance of
the work of delegates at the Convention in proper
perspective !

What can the church do about those who just
want to go to the Convention? They are welcome
to attend. The Convention encourages visitors.
However, only your official delegates will be
voting. Be represented this year; let your church
participate. It is our Convention!

August 1986

9

CHILDREN'S HOME

IIP

St I m

A WEEK AT CAMP

On Monday, June 23, eleven
of our children boarded a bus
that would take them on a
journey, a journey that would
cause a change in some of their
lives. The bus was headed for a
week of fun and fellowship at
Cragmont.

Campers attended music and
teaching classes and encounter
groups each morning. Music
was enjoyed the most by the
children especially if some of
the counselors couldn't sing
and keep up with the motions of
the songs. Afternoons were
filled with recreation of all
kinds: on Tuesday many
campers accomplished climb-
ing to the top of Mount Allen, on
Wednesday the buses were
boarded for a trip to the
Asheville Amusement Park
(food and rides were enjoyed
by all), on Thursday Asheville
Mall was invaded by the
campers (shaving cream was
the most popular item to be
purchased) and then on Friday
afternoon campers and
counselors enjoyed relay races
of all types. Female counselors
and campers competed in a
basketball game. The
counselors scored only four
points; needless to say, they
lost big time. On Friday night
male counselors redeemed face
for the counselors by winning 2
basketball games against the
campers. Canteen and free
time was enjoyed by the

campers. In the evening
"Spiritual Growth" was em-
phasized by chapel services,
films, camp fires, and dorm
devotions.

Our campers really enjoyed
their week at Cragmont and
would like to thank those of you
who made this week a reality
for them.

Yes, a journey of change for
some ; six of our children made
a first-time decision to follow
Christ. Pray for these children
as they strive to learn more
about God and to serve Him.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

The summer of '86 should
long be remembered as one of
the best summers ever for the
Children's Home. Not only has
the Summer Youth Employ-
ment Training Program
(SYETP) been provided, but a
new recreational director,
Sarah Moore, has been hired
for the summer. These two pro-
grams will provide the needed
balance between work and
play.

Sarah comes to us with a very
interesting background having
been born and raised in Osaka,
Japan, by missionary parents.
In 1976 she moved with her
family to Gaffney, South
Carolina. This September
Sarah will be a senior at King
College, Bristol, Tennessee,
majoring in elementary educa-
tion. Her past two summers
were spent as a counselor in a
girls' camp in Western North
Carolina, where she worked
with various youth organiza-
tions. These children sparked
her desire for an even deeper
involvement with young people,
and Sarah believes the Lord
has led her to the Free Will
Baptist Children's Home to
work with our children.

Miss Moore is impressed by
the Cottage Supervisors' close
relationship with the children.
She has observed their commit-
ment and consistency with each

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

young person. Sarah is par-
ticulary touched by the love
and acceptance shown her by
the children from her first day
on campus.

Sarah had to use her life sav-
ing skills in the pool with one of
the children at the beginning of
this summer (for which this
child is especially grateful).
Sarah also wishes to convey her
thanks to Stephen Taylor who
"rescued" her from certain
embarrassment when Sarah at-
tempted and failed to climb up
the slippery pool side while the
pool was being filled up after
cooling off in the water when no
one was around. It seems that
Stephen threw her a rope tied to
a ladder so that she could make
her escape— unnoticed?

Thank you, Sarah, for your
contribution to the Children's
Home. We're glad you are here.

SPORTS EVENTS

Our children here at the
Children's Home did "terrific"
in special events this year. Ron-
nie Bailey was in the Special
Olympics— both the fall and
summer games. In the fall
basketball games he won three
first-place ribbons in the spot
shoot and speed dribble events
and a second-place ribbon for
target passing. During the sum-
mer games he took three first-
place ribbons for frisbee throw,
running long jump and softball
throw. He was second in the 400

meter relay and won fourth and
fifth place ribbons in two other
events. We are really proud of
Ronnie.

Our children were also in-
volved in Field Day at Mid-
dlesex Elementary School.
There were many events and
races in which they were active
participants. You can see that
Jenny and Michael were giving
it their all in the team race.
There were three-legged, sack
and relay races as well. The
final event was a might tug-a-
war. Everyone had a good time
including the very vocal con-
tingent made up of folks from
the Children's Home staff who
came to cheer them on.

CHILDREN'S HOME

CONGRATULATIONS,
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATES!

Congratulations are in order for three of our young ladies who graduated on June
11, 1986, from Middlesex Elementary School. Donna M. and Loretta W. received their
sixth-grade diplomas and promotions to Southern Nash Junior High School while
Joann P. was promoted from kindergarten to the first grade.

Two girls, Martha A. and Ericka H. were in the gifted children's program and were
in the top of their class. A third child, Kristina K., is being considered for the program
during the '86/'87 school year.

We are very proud of all these girls and their accomplishments. The next school
year should be very exciting and rewarding with its new challenges and goals to meet.
May the Lord continue to bless them each day.

IIP v

SOUNDSIDE AUXILIARY MEMBERS
VISIT CHILDREN'S HOME

On June 12, members of the Soundside Auxiliary (Mrs. Connie Liverman, Viola
Brickhouse, Mrs. Victoria Cooper, alumna; Kathy Brickhouse, Mrs. Morris, and a
guest) visited the Home. They were given a tour of the campus and fellowship.

During their visit they presented the Home with towels and linens, which had been
collected from the church, auxiliary and community. Mrs. Cooper talked about the
changes in the campus and reminisced with all about the time she spent here. We want
to thank everyone who shared in this project.

WHEN BURDENS
BECOME BRIDGES

by Harry L. Lucenay
Various kinds of burdens are
mentioned in the Scriptures.
Some can be shared, but others
God intends that we carry by
ourselves. Although the weight
of these trials may at times
seem unbearable, we eventual-
ly come to see that our Lord
always has a wise design in the
burdens He lays upon us. His
purpose is especially evident
when we face new crises.

This reminds me of the fable,
"The Encumbered Ant." The
little insect felt he had been
given a raw deal because he
had to carry a piece of straw
which was so long and heavy
that he staggered beneath its
weight. It was his lot to creep
wearily across a desert of con-
crete. The stress of the situa-
tion was too much, and the ant
became fed up with life. To add
to his frustration, he was
brought to a halt by a large
crack in the pathway. He saw
no way of getting across that
deep divide. He stood there
discouraged. Then suddenly a
thought struck him. His
backbreaking load could ac-
tually be turned into a blessing.
Carefully laying the straw
across the crack in the con-
crete, he walked over it and
safely reached the other side.
His heavy burden had become a
helpful bridge!

This story points up a
valuable lesson. The burden a
Christian is given may be
thought of as the weight of
God's loving arm upon his
shoulder. Through adversity
and trial the Lord often pro-
vides the resources needed to
cross some chasm of difficulty
ahead. If we recognize this and
trust in Him, what we original-
ly thought was an unbearable
load of care will be used to
bring us spiritual progress and
victory.

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

! — State Convention Missions Rally

Board of Foreign Missions in Charge

September 17, 1986; 7:30 P.M.
College Hall, Mount Olive College

Theme: "Celebration of Praise"
For the first time we will have visitors
with us from our work in the Philippines.

The Rev. Pio dela Rosa, president of the Free Will The Rev. Roger Malinao, president of Palawan Bi-
Baptist Church, Philippines, will bring greetings hie College in the Philippines, will deliver the
from the church in the Philippines. message at the Rally.

The Grubbs family will be commissioned for service to the Philip-
pines.

There will be special music and testimonies. Former missionaries will be in charge of the Rally. This
should be the greatest Rally we have ever held. Your attendance will make it possible— come and meet
these our brothers from the Philippines. Come and bring a large number from your church. Don't miss
this historical occasion.

Remember your special offerings assure the continued progress of missions in our church world-wide.
Prayer requests: Pray for the Mission Rally, for the speakers, special music, weather, attendance, and for
the best offering ever.

August 1986

13

FOREIGN MISSIONS

A MOVEMENT
OF PRAYER

by Harold Jones

On June 3, fifty people from
many of our Free Will Baptist
churches gathered at Eagles
Nest for a Day of Prayer. The
purpose of the day was to pray
for revival, unity and outreach.
The program was structured to
fulfill that purpose through con-
certs of prayer, Bible study,
quiet times and testimonies.
The Rev. James Evans
summed up the impact of the
day when he said, "This is one
of the greatest days of my life."
The Lord did some very
precious things in the lives of
every person who attended. We
believe God for answers to all
our prayers. There is a stirring
of revival fire already among
us. There is a new sense of love
and unity, and there is a re-
newed vision and desire to
reach those who are lost
wherever they live on the face
of the earth.

It was the consensus of all
who attended the Day of Prayer
that we should have at least
three days a year set aside for
concerted prayer. The date of
the next Day of Prayer will be
announced at a later date.
Please plan to join us at that
time.

Prayer is the keystone to
spiritual victory. United in
prayer we will see the
marvelous handiwork of God.

YES, WE CAN HAVE
REVIVAL, BUT . . .

by Harold Jones

Friends, we need revival
throughout our denomination,
and it will come if we earnestly
seek God in prayer. We pride
ourselves in having a great doc-
trine, and yet we fail to realize
that doctrine on paper and not
in one's heart is useless. We
speak about our belief in the
Holy Spirit and yet deny the
power of the Holy Spirit, and
even smirk at those who em-
phasize the ministry of the Holy
Spirit in our age, as though we
have the "true light" and they
are in darkness. But we cannot
answer why they are growing
and we are dying. We do not
have to believe as they do, but
we must believe that the Holy
Spirit is the third person of the
Godhead, that He is the very
power of the church today and
that He can and is ready to fill
us anew with power and life to
express Jesus Christ to the lost
of this earth in word and deed,
and in demonstration of the
power of the Holy Spirit. Paul

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

admonished the church to
quench not the Spirit, for he
knew that to do so would
strangle the very life of the
church.

It is time that we got on our
knees before Almighty God and
asked Him to remove our
spiritual pride that we may be
renewed in the Spirit of God,
and be fit vessels, willing
vessels for the Father's use.

Yes, we can have revival,
but it will only come when we
humble ourselves and pray,
and seek His fullness ; but if we
are so spiritually proud that we
refuse to acknowledge our need
and heed His warning, then
ruin is our fatal course. Yes, we
can have revival, and I believe
we will.

The Rev. Harold
Jones serves as
director of the
State Convention
L Foreign Missions
JKL program.

LET ME SERVE YOU

As Foreign Missions Direc-
tor, I would like to visit your
church, auxiliary, or laymen's
league and share or help you in
the following ways :

1. Missions Conference.

2. Concerts of Prayer.

3. Missions Study Courses.

4. Slides on work in India, Mexico,
and the Philippines.

5. Current information about the
Foreign Missions program.

6. Missions Message.

The Foreign Missions pro-
gram is your program and you
owe it to yourself as pastor and
church member to be informed
so you can be a more effective
prayer partner.

Please contact Harold Jones,
P. O. Box 39, Ay den, NC 28513;
or call: office 746-4963; home,
756-9732. I am available Sun-
days, Wednesdays, or any other
time that is convenient for you.
I look forward to hearing from
you.

Invite Our Visitors From
the Philippines to
Visit Your Church

Invite the Revs, dela Rosa
and Malinao from the Philip-
pines to your church while they
are in North Carolina during
September. We would like to
visit as many churches as
possible during that month.
Contact Harold Jones, office
746-4963, home 756-9732. Call
soon for an appointment. Open
dates will be filled on a first call
basis.

August, 1986

Dear Friends,

The month of July marked the beginning of the 1986-87 church
year. The past year was a blessed year for the Foreign Missions
program, bu; our expectations are even greater as we begin this
new church year. I believe we are going to see some marvelous
things happen as a result of consecrated prayer.

PRAYER IS THE KEYSTONE TO SPIRITUAL VICTORY. Please
pray for the following during the 1986-87 church year:

1. For the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all our plans and
activities.

2. For open doors and hearts to receive the gospel, that thousands of
people will be won to the Lord.

3. For good health for our missionaries and workers in Mexico, India, and
the Philippines.

4. For the spiritual growth of everyone associated with the Board of
Foreign Missions.

5. For the Grubbs Family as they travel and adjust to their ministry in the
Philippines.

6. For more laborers to go into the harvest.

7. For the financial needs of the Board of Foreign Missions. God is willing
and able to meet these needs.

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and financial support.
It is encouraging to know that you stand with us in world
outreach.

With Joy in Christ,

Harold Jones
Director-Treasurer

August 1986

15

(0

Saturday

2

Isaiah 5-9

9

Isaiah 43-46

16

Jer 7-10

23

Jer 32-33

30

Lam 1-2

August is State Convention Promotional Month.

Friday

1

Isaiah 1-4

8

Isaiah 38-42

15

Jer 4-6

22

Jer 29-31

29

Jer 51-52

Thursday

7

Isaiah 32-37

14

Jer 13

21

Jer, 26-28

28

Jer 49-50

AUGUST 3

Wednesday

6

Isaiah 27-31

13

Isaiah 64-66

20

Jer 23-25

27

Jer 45-48

Tuesday

5

Isaiah 22-26

12

Isaiah 58-63

19

Jer 19-22

26

Je. 41-44

Monday

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

12 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 1112 13
14 15 16 1 7 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30

4

Isaiah 15-21

11

Isaiah 52-57

18

Jer 15-18

25

Jer 37-40

Sunday

-» d"> C\j <T> CD
V CNJ

u — CO CD
**■ CNJ

>. r- »— c\j cO

-J > t\j rji (D <*) O
^ > CM C)

—5 i •- CO lD cm <t>

CM CM

_ h- T -~ CO
K — CM CM

OT *- CM CM

3

Isaiah 10-14

10

Isaiah 47-51

17

Jer 11-14

24

Jer 34-36

31

Lam 3-5

HOME MISSIONS

^^^^^^ ^^^^^^

m. mmm$mw mm w

\;mwm mwrnm mmsm wm

mm mmm :mmm.mm

■ ■ ■■ ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■■■■ ■ ■: ' : r-: ■ ■ ' ■ L,;

BEAVERDAM YOUTH WALK FOR MISSIONS

The youth of Beaverdam Church sponsored a
walk-a-thon to raise money for Home Missions
on Saturday, April 26, 1986. Twenty-seven par-
ticipants walked approximately ten miles and
collected a total of $520.54.

Scott Simmons, son of Faye and Ricky Sim-
mons of Route 1, Chadbourn, was our highest col-
lector in the AFC age group, and Valerie Penny,
daughter of Ila Vee and Jack Penny of Route 3,
White ville, was highest collector in the YFA age
group.

During a recent Sunday evening service, the
Rev. David C. Hansley, executive director of
Home Missions, presented a certificate to the
Beaverdam youth for this achievement.

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

OLIVIA FOUNTAIN FINDS MORE
THAN ACADEMICS AT MOC

by Patti O'Donoghue
Director of Public Information

Olivia Fountain of Chinquapin, right, reviews a computer roster with Dianne B. Piley,
director of admissions. Miss Fountain's summer duties include entering the names of
all current students into the computer by county and by high school. The rising junior
is a member of Bethlehem Church in Duplin County.

"There is a genuine sense of
family here," says Olivia Foun-
tain, a rising junior at Mount
Olive College. The closeness
that exists at the College helped
Miss Fountain endure the in-
tense sorrow of her mother's
death on May 17, 1985. When
her mother died it seemed she
might have to leave Mount
Olive.

"We thought maybe we
couldn't afford my coming here
after the hospital bills started
coming in," recalls the
vivacious young woman. "But
due to financial aid and some
very understanding people here
at the College, they agreed to
work with me on payment.

"After Mom died everyone at
the College understood the
pressures. Mrs. Costa (her
English instructor) was a
stronghold for me. She was a
helpful teacher and a helpful
friend. Mrs. Ackiss (director of
church support) was always

concerned. Dr. Raper (MOC
president) was always telling
me if I needed anything to let
him know. I really don't feel I
would have made it without
their help," she says.

Before her death, Miss Foun-
tain's mother, Nannie L. Foun-
tain, served as a Sunday School
teacher and sang in the church
choir at Bethlehem Church in
Duplin County. Miss Fountain
also sang in the church choir.

"My mom encouraged my
music and wanted me to study
music at Mount Olive. I've
taken voice with Miss Weldon
(music professor) the past two
years and will be a member of
the Concert Choir this coming
year.

"My father is very suppor-
tive. Whenever I get dis-
couraged and wonder if it is
worth it, it's always good to go
home and talk to him. He helps
me see things clearly," says
Miss Fountain. Her father,

Alvis Fountain of Chinquapin,
is chairman of the board of
deacons and teaches Sunday
School at Bethlehem Church.

This summer the Richlands
High School graduate is learn-
ing the workings of the College
Admissions Office and "board-
ing" in the comfortable home of
science professor Lorelle Mar-
tin.

"I was hired to work in ad-
missions," says Miss Fountain.
"This gives me the opportunity
to see what is going on and to
learn the system."

Assisting with bulk mailings,
greeting visitors, answering
questions about the College,
learning word processing and
sending out application forms
and catalogs are all part of a
typical day for Miss Fountain.

"It is a good job for me
because I love people and
variety, and I like to meet new
people. I think this will help me
in my plans to serve as a Chris-
tian lay worker— perhaps at a
Christian camp. I have always
wanted to serve the Lord
through my work," she em-
phasizes.

The liberal arts major is look-
ing forward to the fall
semester. "I am looking for-
ward to meeting all the people
whose names I've seen while
sending out letters to incoming
freshmen. I'm going to be a stu-
dent assistant in the fall, so I'll
get the chance to help new
students move into the dorms,
find where they are supposed to
be and make sure they have
what they need."

Miss Fountain plans to
receive both an associate and
baccalaureate degree at Mount
Olive College.

"I thought about going
elsewhere to college," she says,
"but I felt 'led' about coming to
MOC. I worked out a plan for
my life by coming here, and I
know it is going to be worth it."

August 1986

19

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

FALL SEMESTER PROMISES TO BE EXCITING

Huffman relaxes with student— Dr. William Huffman, right, enjoys the company of
junior Freddie Pierce of Pikeville. A psychology professor at Mount Olive College,
Huffman developed a new academic concentration in psychology during the summer.
Courses in this field of study will be taught beginning in the fall semester.

The fall semester at Mount
Olive College promises to be
one of the most exciting ever.
Applications are up more than
40 percent over last year.
Courses are set, and a lively
orientation week is planned
August 24-28.

Of particular interest is the
addition of a new bachelor of
science degree in psychology.
Dr. William Huffman, who
joined the faculty last year,
developed the program.
History of Psychology and
Practicum Techniques of
Counseling, Social Psychology,
Peer Counseling and Directed
Studies are all new courses ap-
proved for the fall curriculum.

Students may work toward
baccalaureate degrees with
concentrations in accounting,
business management, biology,
English, church ministries,
American studies, history,
political science, psychology,
social science, religion and
recreation studies and ser-
vices.

Mount Olive's associate
degree programs, transfer pro-
grams and business cer-

tificates are available, as
always.

Orientation Week

Sunday, August 24, kicks off
orientation week. Freshmen
will move into the dorms, meet
with their advisors and enjoy a
picnic with their families.

Freshmen advisory group
meetings are set for Monday,
August 25. The afternoon and
evening hours will bring some
pleasant surprises with an
"outing experience" at Eagles
Nest and entertainment by the
faculty at the "activities fair."

The schedule for Tuesday
and Wednesday centers around
registration. Transfer and
returning students are also
scheduled to move into the
dorms. Freshmen, new
transfer students, faculty and
staff are invited to a reception
at the home of President and
Mrs. W. Burkette Raper.

On Thursday, August 28,
classes begin. Fall convocation
will be held that evening at
8 p.m. in College Hall, with
President Raper addressing
the College family.

The counseling and admis-
sions offices are open during
the summer to assist those who
have not already made their
college plans.

Financial aid is still
available. Full-time Free Will
Baptist students are eligible for
an annual $1500 Tuition Grant,
and North Carolina students
are eligible for the $950
Legislative Tuition Grant. Also,
the financial aid director
strives to put together financial
assistance packages based on
individual need.

Questions? Contact Dianne
B. Riley, director of admis-
sions, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365 (telephone 919/658-2502).

A Reminder—
Ministers' Institute Set for
August at Mount Olive College

"Creative Growth Dynamics,
Inc." founder, Dr. Harry W.
Fowler, is set to speak at this
year's Ministers' Institute on
Monday, August 4, and Tues-
day, August 5. The institute,
sponsored by Mount Olive Col-
lege and the North Carolina
Ministerial Association of
Original Free Will Baptists,
will begin at 9 a.m. each day in
College Hall.

A registration fee of $20 per
person includes the cost of a
workbook. Recommended
reading for the Ministers' In-
stitute is Leading Your Church
to Growth by C. Peter Wagner
(Regal Books, 1984). The book
may be purchased through the
Free Will Baptist Press and its
branch bookstores, including
the Mount Olive College
Bookstore.

For additional information,
contact the Rev. Frank R. Har-
rison, director of church rela-
tions, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365; telephone (919) 658-2502;
or at home, 658-9363.

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FIRST AMERICAN ANNOUNCES
$15,000 ENDOWMENT GIFT TO
MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

First American Bank
representatives Stotler Porter,
left, Mount Olive city ex-
ecutive, and Charles Kraft,
right, chairman of the local ad-
visory board, presented an en-
dowment gift of $3,000 to Dr. W.
Burkette Raper, president of
Mount Olive College. This gift
is the first of a five-year com-
mitment of $15,000 by the First

The donation represents the
collective efforts of the area
First American offices of
Goldsboro, Mount Olive,
Pikeville, Clinton and Warsaw,
and is part of the College's cur-
rent campaign to build the en-
dowment to $6.5 million by 1990
and $10 million by 1995.

First American represen-
tatives on hand for the presen-
tation included Porter and
Kraft; Don Barnes, Dr. James
L. Cox, and Leona Brock,
Goldsboro; Linda Evans,
Pikeville; Ronnie Jackson and
Allen Jackson, Clinton; and
Colleen Martin and I. J. Quinn
Sr., Warsaw.

"First American Savings
Bank is pleased to make this in-
vestment in the growth of
Mount Olive College," said
Porter. "Our bank recognizes
the importance of the College to
the area served by First
American."

Speaking at a luncheon after
the presentation, President W.
Burkette Raper thanked the
bank's representatives. "We
appreciate this meaningful in-
vestment in our work by one of
our outstanding corporate
citizens. You have helped us
take a significant step toward
making Mount Olive a great
four-year liberal arts college."

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Free Will Baptists pause during freshman orientation— Pictured in the Henderson
building during freshman orientation at Mount Olive College, from left, are Ronald
Yopp of Folkstone Church, Onslow County; Betty Goodman of Pilgrims Rest Church,
Carteret County; Alan Love of Pine Hills Church in Alabama; Karen James of Everetts
Chapel Church, Johnston County; the Rev. Frank Harrison, College chaplain; Lisa
Wilcox, Pleasant Hill Church, Pitt County; Marty Wiggins of Pleasant Hill Church,
Wayne County; Cassandra Jones of Smyrna Church, Beaufort County; and Lorrie
Franklin of White Hill Church, Beaufort County.

The students took placement tests, learned about career planning, received
academic counseling and pre-registered for classes. Free Will Baptist students are
eligible to receive a $1500 yearly Tuition Grant to attend Mount Olive College. The final
freshman orientation to be held before the opening of the fall semester is set for
August 7 (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

AUGUST AT A GLANCE

August 4-5

Ministers' Institute: Dr. Harry W. Fowler will lead church

growth conference in College Hall. Registration is $20.

Contact Frank Harrison (telephone 919/658-2502).

August 24

Dorms open for freshmen, orientation activities, picnic with

parents.

August 25

Advisory groups meet, outing at Eagles Nest, activities fair,

vesper service.

August 27

Registration for classes.

August 27

Reception for freshmen, new transfers, faculty and staff, 7:30

p.m., at the home of President and Mrs. W. Burkette Raper.

August 28

Regular schedule of classes begins.

August 28

Fall Convocation, 8 p.m. in College Hall, Dr. W. Burkette

Raper, speaker.

September 11

Last day to enroll for fall semester.

Contact Linda Kraft, director of counseling services, for

information about orientation activities (telephone

919/658-2502).

August 1986

21

CRAGMONT

CRAGMONT

August 1986

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

REQUIREMENTS MET

Seven teachers from three
Free Will Baptist Churches
recently completed the two
courses in the Basic Teacher
Certificate training program.
They were Virginia Skinner
(Arapahoe Church); Melvin
White, June White, Jeannie
Sawyer, and Wayne Sawyer
(Core Point Chapel Church);
Carol Prescott and Peggy Rice
(Rock of Zion Church).

I have had the privilege of
teaching these courses many
times, and I am always im-
pressed and inspired by the en-
thusiasm and dedication of
those teachers participating.
They take the courses because
they want to be better teachers
and to give their best to Christ.
Such a desire is one of the
greatest qualifications for
teachers. When teachers are
growing, it will not be too dif-
ficult for them to help others
grow!

WORKSHOP HELD

The Field Secretary con-
ducted a teaching demonstra-
tion workshop on June, 18, at
Sound Side Church near Colum-
bia. About 25 persons attended.
The Rev. C. H. Overman is
pastor of the church and also a
hardworking member of the
Executive Board of the Sunday
School Convention.

WORKSHOPS OFFERED

The Sunday School Conven-
tion offers many good pro-
grams to our Sunday Schools.
One of them is a variety of
workshops by the Field
Secretary. The following is a
list and description of the
workshops.

Teaching Demonstration
Workshop: It demonstrates a
variety of teaching methods
through the actual teaching of a
lesson. The methods used are
then identified, explained in
more detail, and discussed.

Problem Solving Workshop:

Every Sunday School and
teacher face problems and
needs. This workshop presents
a practical method for address-
ing those problems. The
method is then applied to some
of the specific problems and
needs of that particular Sunday
School and its teachers.

Sunday School Growth
Workshop: It sets forth suc-
cessful ways Sunday Schools
can grow.

Ideas For Improving Your
Sunday School: It presents
many practical ways for im-
proving the organization and
administration of the Sunday
School, and improving the
quality of teaching.

Discipline in the Sunday
School Class: It explores the
meaning of Christian discipline
and ways to foster it. Many il-
lustrations are given.

Using Audio Visuals in
Teaching: This workshop
shows the great variety of
teaching aids that can be effec-
tively used in the classroom.

Other workshops are being
developed. What would be of
assistance to you? Send in
workshop ideas to the Field
Secretary.

If you would like to schedule
any of these workshops in your
church, call or write: Bass
Mitchell, Field Secretary,
Route 7, Box 471, Goldsboro,
NC 27530.

THE MINISTRY OF
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

That's the theme for a series
of three seminars to be held for
Free Will Baptist Churches in
Pitt County on September 8, 9,
and 10. The purpose is to ad-
dress the specific needs of their
Sunday Schools. Each seminar
will start at 7 and last until 9
p.m.

Seminar One: The Ministry
of the Sunday School (8th). It
will examine the purpose and

importance of the Sunday
School.

Seminar Two: A Growing
Sunday School (9th). It will set
forth practical ways for helping
Sunday Schools grow, as well
as training teachers in how to
better share their faith and the
gospel.

Seminar Three: A Caring
Sunday School (10th). It will
present teaching as a caring
ministry and help equip
teachers and officers with car-
ing knowledge and skills.

Each seminar will begin with
everyone together for a lecture-
forum. Then the assembly will
be divided into the following
groups for more study and
discussion: Sunday School Of-
ficers, Teachers of Adults,
Teachers of Youth, Teachers of
Children (l-6th grade), and
Teachers of Preschoolers.

BOOK REVIEW
Handbook of Adult Educa-
tion. It's edited by Nancy T.
Foltz. It was published in 1986
by Religious Education Press.
This press publishes about five
books a year that are on the cut-
ting-edge of Christian educa-
tion. They give the very latest
theories, research, and direc-
tions in Christian education.

This particular book is ex-
cellent. Every person who
works with adults in the church
should read it. It combines
theory and practice in a very
readable style. Also, it's full of
valuable insights into how
adults learn and how to design
educational programs for
them.

The book has ten chapters,
dealing comprehensive with
vital aspects of adult religious
education. It and all publica-
tions of Religious Education
Press can be checked out from
Moye Library, Mount Olive Col-
lege.

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

PASTORS' AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENTS' BANQUET

Sponsored by North Carolina Free Will
Baptist Sunday School Convention

September 5, 1986
King's Restaurant
Kinston, North Carolina
7 P.M.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Jesse McDaniels
President, Lenoir Community College

Dinner: Combination Plate
$5.50 (Payable at the Door)

Pastors, Superintendents, and Their Wives
Are Invited and Encouraged to Attend

For Additional Information: Contact Jack Bircher

638-8321

"Developing An Evangelism
Strategy Using Church Growth Principles"

Dr. Harry H. Fowler, Director, Creative Growth Dynamics

MONDAY, AUGUST 4

9:00- 9:30 a.m. — Coffee, Doughnuts, College Hall
9:30- 9:40 a.m. — Devotional
Session #1

9:40-10:45 a.m. — "Introduction to Church Growth"
10:45-11:00 a.m. — Break

11:00-12:15 p.m. — "Biblical Basis for Church Growth"
12:15- 1:30 p.m. — Lunch, Downtown Campus

Session #2

1:30- 2:30 p.m. — "Building Blocks of Church Growth

2:30- 2:45 p.m. — Break

2:45- 4:00 p.m. — "Structuring for Growth"

-The Leadership Team"

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
Session # 3

9:00- 9:30 a.m.— Coffee, Doughnuts, College Hall
9:30- 9:40 a.m. — Devotional
9:40-10:45 a.m. — "Seven Steps to the Harvest"
10:45-11:00 a.m.— Break

11:00-12:15 p.m.— "Workshop: Implementing Seven Steps"
12:15- 1:30 p.m. — Lunch, Downtown Campus

Session #4

1:30- 2:30 p.m.— "Developing an Evangelism Strategy"
2:30- 2:45 p.m. — Break

2:45- 4:00 p.m. — "Workshop: Implementing the Evangelism Strategy"

MINISTERS' INSTITUTE
TO FEATURE
"CREATIVE GROWTH
DYNAMICS" FOUNDER

Dr. Harry H. Fowler, founder
of Creative Growth Dynamics,
Inc., will be the featured
speaker at this year's
Ministers' Institute. The In-
stitute, which is sponsored
jointly by Mount Olive College
and the North Carolina
Ministerial Association of
Original Free Will Baptists, is
set for Monday, August 4, and
Tuesday, August 5, at Mount
Olive College.

"Dr. Fowler offers a pro-
gram of church growth prin-
ciples that ministers can imple-
ment in small, local churches,"
says the Rev. Frank Harrison,
coordinator for the Institute.
"The seminars will help
ministers to study biblical
growth principles, become
more effective growth leaders,
expand their church's outreach
and develop evangelism
strategy."

Fowler is a member of the
North Carolina Baptist State
Convention, serving in a varie-
ty of positions as a member of
the Home Missions Board and
as a youth leader, church con-
sultant, teacher and speaker.
He is also a member of the
North Roanoke Baptist
Association and has served as
vice president of the Pastors'
Conference, on the Missions
and Evangelism Committee,
and as chairman of the New
Work Committee.

His education includes a doc-
torate from Fuller Theological
Seminary, Pasadena, Califor-
nia. He received his masters
degree from Southeastern Bap-
tist Theological Seminary at
Wake Forest and bachelor's
degree from East Carolina
University, Greenville.

Ordained a Southern Baptist
minister at age 23, he has

pastored Baptist Churches in
Stokes, Maysville, Oak City,
Durham and Rocky Mount. In
1985 Fowler founded Creative
Growth Dynamics, Inc.

Recommended reading for
the Ministers' Institute is
Leading Your Church to
Growth by C. Peter Wagner
(Regal Books, 1984). The book
may be ordered through the
Free Will Baptist Press and its
branch bookstores, including
the Mount Olive College
bookstore.

Registration is $20 per per-
son, and churches are urged to
provide the fee for the minister
and at least one lay person
(more if possible). The
registration fee includes a
workbook.

The workshop will be held in
College Hall. Lunch will be
served in the College cafeteria
at a cost of $3 per meal.

Overnight accommodations
may be arranged at the
Southern Belle Motel in Mount
Olive, telephone (919) 658-9404.

For additional information,
contact the Rev. Frank R. Har-
rison, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive, North Carolina
28365; telephone (919) 658-2502,
or at home, 658-9363.
PITT COUNTY SUNDAY
SCHOOL PROGRAM SCHED-
ULED—In cooperation with the
Rev. Bass Mitchell, field
secretary of the North Carolina
Sunday School Convention, the
Pitt County Free Will Baptist
Minister's Fellowship has
planned a program to assist
Pitt County churches improve
their Sunday School programs.
The program is scheduled for
September 8-10, and is for
pastors, Sunday School officers
and teachers. The objective of
the study is to address the
needs of Sunday Schools and
how to determine how they
might be improved.

The program format will pro-
vide discussion on the following
subjects: The Ministry of the
Sunday School, A Growing Sun-
day School, and A Caring

26

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Sunday School. Denomina-
tional Sunday School leaders
will lead the presentations with
follow-up discussions which
emphasize practical applica-
tions.

The program will be held at
First Church, Greenville,
which is located at 2600 South
Charles Street, from 7 to 9 each
evening.

Anyone having questions
about the program is encour-
aged to call one of the following
members of the Program Com-
mittee: J. B. Narron, 746-4388;
Ray Williamson, 758-4356; or
Bryant Hines, 355-5929.

THE CAPE FEAR UNION
MEETING will be held at Tee's
Chapel Church on Saturday,
August 30. The scheduled pro-
gram is as follows :
10:00 Hymn, Congregation

—Devotion, Mrs. Ruth L.

Warrick
—Welcome, Host Church
—Response, Mrs. C. Felton
Godwin

10:20— Enrollment of Officers
and Ministers
—Recognition of Visitors
—Reading of Minutes of the
Last Union

— Appointment of Commit-
tees

-Roll Call of Churches
—Report of Denominational
Enterprises

— Miscellaneous Business
11:15— Hymn, Congregation

— Special Music

— Offering and Offertory
Prayer

—Message, the Rev. Atlas
Hogg

12:00— Report of Treasurer
—Report of Committees

—Unfinished Business

— Benediction and Adjourn-
ment

— Lunch and Christian
Fellowship

THE CAPE FEAR YOUTH
FELLOWSHIP met at Palmer
Memorial Church, Garner, on
June 7. The overall attendance
was 201, with ten churches
present. Genesis Mission won
the Youth Banner with 19
present; the Overall Banner
went to Riverside Church, with
33 present.

The August 2 meeting of the
Fellowship will be held at
Cumberland County Park. All
Cape Fear churches are en-
couraged to represent.

THE CONGREGATION OF
SAINTS DELIGHT CHURCH,
near Ormondsville, announces
that the Rev. Mack Humbles
has assumed this pastorate.

THE FIRST UNION OF THE
WESTERN CONFERENCE
will meet with Fellowship

V

Church, Wilson, on Saturday,
August 16, at 10 a.m. The clerk,
the Rev. James Joyner, urges
all member churches to be
represented.

THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING of the Free Will
Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.
will be held on Tuesday,
September 2, 1986, at 10 a.m. , in
the Multi-purpose Room at the
Press. At this time the manage-
ment will give an up-to-date
financial report, along with
answering any questions there
might be concerning the In-
stitution's work. Three Board
members will be elected during
the meeting. (They will serve
three-year terms.)

PLEASE NOTE

In the last issue of The Free
Will Baptist the Second Place
AFC Art and Crafts Winner was
incorrectly cited as being from
Hay mount Church. Mary Edie
Mason attends Genesis Mis-
sion.

WOMAN'S AUXILIARY f§|
CONFERENCE

Week I — August 4-9

Week II— August 11-16

Co-directors — Dola Dudley, Becky Jo Sumner
Registrar— Alice Barrow

CRAGMONT ASSEMBLY

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 81 1 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states,
$8.50, $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Janie Jones Sowers, Editor of Literature.

August 1986

27

"going under" every week na-
tionwide.

City dwellers are concerned
about lawns, shrubs, plants and
trees. These are pleasant and
precious to those of us who love
them, but they are not to be
compared to those things which
determine the whole way of life
of persons who depend upon the
rain that falls upon the fields.

Unless one lives on a farm or
has a background from the
farm, it is difficult to fully ap-
preciate what the farm crisis
means. It is more than employ-
ment and income ; it is a way of
life without any other being
known. To lose a farm is not
just the loss of a business or in-
come producing property. It
often means the loss of a family
heritage throughout many
generations. It is the loss of all
that is precious and mean-
ingful. When the farm goes,
everything goes!

A sad and disturbing illustra-
tion of this truth appeared in
the secular media a few days
ago. Out in Oklahoma,
Katherine Copeland and her
family had plowed the fertile
fields of the southwestern part
of the state since 1910. The
thought of losing the farm was
more than the 55-year-old
mother could stand. She
climbed on top of a pile of burn-
ing garbage and took her own
life. On the evening television
news, as her funeral was
reported, the camera focused
upon her grave marker and the
announcer commented that she
and her family had worked so
hard and struggled so long that
"... the land took back one who
would not give it up."

In Margaret Mitchell's
classic, Gone With the Wind,
now marking its 50th anniver-
sary, Mr. O'Hara tells his
daughter, Scarlett, that she
must love the land. Those of us
who live on farms, or whose
lives emerged from dirt farm-

LOOKING FOR A CLOUD

(Continued from Page 8)

ing, understand. You must love
the land!

But the land isn't very easy to
love these days. Farmers have
been suffering enough prob-
lems without the drought.
Now, many of them face extinc-
tion; they must look for a new
life.

What can Christians do? Per-
mit this writer to offer some
rather obvious observations :

1. Try to understand. As the
Indian saying goes, until we
have walked in the other per-
son's moccasins, we may not
understand but let us try.
Economic threat is enough to
bear, standing alone, but the
broader implications mean the
greatest demands are imposed
upon farm families to survive.

2. Affirm the farmer. Be
positive about the persons
while demonstrating a genuine
concern about the conditions.
Those of us who are not
farmers should exhibit more
concern for them than for
ourselves in what these condi-
tions will produce. Most of us
will not starve nor even have
our own food suppiy diminished
but the farmer may lose all !

3. Counsel the farmer and
the family. Every church
should mount a maximum cam-
paign to help troubled farmers
and workers through the
physical and emotional ordeal.
The psychological dimensions
of the crisis may be equal to or
greater than the physical
demands.

4. Contribute cash to help
where possible. It is not possi-
ble for Baptists statewide or na-
tionwide to help a specific
situation but those close by,
familiar with the persons and
their plight may be able to
assist. Large amounts are
probably needed but small
amounts will be greatly ap-
preciated. Make sure gifts are
made in a manner to preserve
the pride and dignity of the

farmers. There have been
enough assaults already on
these two dimensions of life.

5. Pray for the farmers and
workers and pray for rain. The
Scriptures teach that the "ef-
fectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much. ' '
James goes on to say in the fifth
chapter that Elijah prayed for
no rain and then prayed for rain
(see 1 Kings 17-18) and God
answered his prayers.

None of us knows why the
worst drought in a century has
come— perhaps it is not for us
to know— but we do have faith
that God can handle the situa-
tion. Let us take the matter to
the Lord and expect His
answer.

Remember that Elijah sent
his servant to the mountain to
look toward the sea for rain. At
first he saw nothing but finally
he saw " . . .a little cloud out of
the sea, like a man's hand . . .
and there was a great rain.

It is time to pray and look for
the cloud.

Reprinted from The Biblical
Recorder, July 26, 1986.

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL

lTfs Time to Get
Out the Sickle:

The word compassion has been defined as
"passion that moves a person to action!"

Jesus often saw sheep which did not have a
shepherd as He looked at people. He could have
seen them as people who rejected His claims, as
men and women dirty with sin and delighting in
it, as selfish, materialistic individuals who
sought His healing and His bread but who re-
fused His lordship.

Jesus saw shepherdless sheep and was
moved with compassion. And it is one thing to
see people— it is quite another to see them as
shepherdless sheep and to be moved with com-
passion.

As we live our daily lives, we can be moved
with resentment, with disgust, even with anger.
More than likely, though, we become indifferent.
There are just so many people, we think.

But we are not called to turn our heads, as
though these people do not exist. Consider Chan-
dran Devanesan's words penned to a rickshaw
puller:

I pass you every morning

on my way to the station ....

But you hear nothing, you see nothing.

You lie curled up in your rickshaw

with sprawling limbs and inert body

like some tired animal ....

Now you shape your body

to fit the wooden embrace

of the hard sides of your rickshaw

for its walls are your home, your rented home ....

The rickshaw and you —

you belong together.

I have passed you by at other times—

when you were not asleep

and something of your life

has trailed after me ....

I have heard you whine for a fare

when the day's earnings were poor.

! have seen you resentful and bitter

when you spat on the ground

and talked unconscious communism.

I pass you by like a hundred others

who also pass you by—

and the road may be the road

from Jerusalem to Jericho for all we know.

I would like to put my hand on your shoulder

and say to you, "Comrade,

there is One who died for us

and dying made us blood brothers."

But I am filled with cowardice of the well-dressed—

for clothes are by no means flimsy

when it comes to erecting barriers

between man and man.

I am afraid you will wake with a start

and betray your resentment in your eyes

as you see in me what I really am —

your well-dressed enemy ....

Day by day I pass you by,

you the man by the roadside

and I the priest and the Levite rolled in one,

passing you by.

How much easier it is to pass people by. Yet
there are times when God wants us to cry with
Him because of hurting people.

But we do not want to see people as God sees
them. We do not want to be upset, unsettled. We
might get emotionally overloaded with the needs
of others. We do not know if we can take that.

Besides, our attempts to reach out may be
rejected or interpreted as crude and tactless. We
may be taken advantage of, exploited.

The problem is that we cannot know who
among these people are ready to hear until we go
to them. We cannot know what hurts exist, what
pains are paralyzing. Will we allow Christ to ex-
press His compassion through us? Will we let
Christ break our hearts with what breaks His?

Jesus saw shepherdless sheep and was
moved with compassion. "The harvest is
plentiful," He observed.

And it is a harvest that is ready to be reaped,
if only we will thrust in the sickle.

(Oh yes, it will cost us something . . . part of
ourselves. )

August 1986

29

The
SKYLIGHT

INN

BAR-B-Q

CAPITOL OF THE WORLD

THE BAR B-CUE KING

There can only be one KING!
And PETE JONES of the Skylight Inn
of Ayden, North Carolina has been

Upholding a Family Tradition of
WOOD COOKED Bar-B-Cue since 1830
Recognized as the BAR-B-CUE KING in . . .

1980 National Geographic's Backroad America

1981 North-South Bar-B-Cue Bowl in Washington, D.C.

1982 North-South Bar-B-Cue Bowl in Washington, D.C.
The Tarheel Magazine

Chase Publishing Company
Southern Living Magazine
Hunters Horn Magazine
Newsweek Magazine

And After One Bite— You'll Know Why PETE'S the KING.

He has what everyone else claims . . .

THE BEST

And the Bar-B-Cue does the talking for Pete

If it's not cooked with WOOD,
It's not BAR-B-CUE!

So the next time you're trying the rest, say,
"Just think— I could have had the BEST,
I could have eaten with THE KING.

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOW TO SEND
YOUR VERY BEST.

You've lavished a lot of love and affection on your household
possessions over the years. So on moving day let us give them the
special care and protection they need.

Our exclusive Sanitized-treated vans make sure your belongings
stay fresh and clean. And you'll enjoy the extra peace of mind
of a totally "Pre-Planned" move.

United Van Lines. The premium moving service with the
affordable price. From the people who make moving nice going!

Home Storage Co., Inc.

Goldsboro- Raleigh
1-800-532-5360

August 1986

31

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

DURHAM NC £7706

Keep your mind in shape this,
summer. Read inspirational,
entertaining books from

Free Will Baptist Press
811 North Lee Street
Ayden, NC 28513

Bead 'em While It's Hot!

(Its branch bookstores are in
New Bern, Wilson, and Kinston.)

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The Free Will

BAPTIST

September, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 9

3 Convention Highlights

9 How Do You Catch a Falling Star?

by Alan Highers

10 What Makes a Church Great?

by Jim Smoke

1 1 1986 Superball Tournament

DEPARTMENTS

14 Foreign Missions

18 Sunday School Convention

21 Mount Olive College

25 Children's Home

27 Cragmont

28 News Briefs
31 Editorial

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Convention Highlights

Registration for the 1986 State Convention
will begin on Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m.
and will continue until 10 a.m. (Other registra-
tion periods are as follows: Wednesday, 1:15-2
p.m.; Thursday, 9-9:30 a.m.) The Convention
will begin at 9 : 30 a.m. (The schedule for the Con-
vention can be found on Pages 4-5).

During the course of the session, sermons
will be delivered by the Revs. Steve Sprinkle and
Frank Ray Harrison. Mr. Sprinkle teaches in the
Department of Religion and Philosophy at
Atlantic Christian College, Wilson. Mr. Harrison
serves as Chaplain at Mount Olive College.

The 1986 Missions Rally will begin at 7:30
Wednesday evening, with the Foreign Missions
Board responsible for the program. The theme
for the Rally is "Celebration of Praise." The Ral-
ly will be the first time visitors have attended
from the Convention's work in the Philippines.
The Rev. Pio dela Rosa, president of the Free
Will Baptist Church, Philippines, will bring

September 1986

greetings from the church. The Rev. Roger
Malinao, president of Palawan Bible College in
the Philippines, will deliver the message. The
Grubbs family will also be commissioned for ser-
vice during this event. A special offering will be
taken for the missions work of the State Conven-
tion that night. Funds not earmarked for either
foreign missions or home missions work will be
divided between the two departments.

Remember, each church should send its
pastor and his wife as well as its delegates ; and
they should attend all sessions.

An information desk will be set up to assist
anyone with any questions on locations as well as
Convention facilities. Denominational enter-
prises and institutions will also be relating the
present status of their respective organization
and telling about projected goals.

The importance of the Convention cannot be
over emphasized.

Seventy-Fourth Annual Session

of the

North Carolina State Convention

of

Original Free Will Baptists

College Hall
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive, North Carolina

Wednesday, September 17, 1986

MORNING SESSION

8:30 Registration of Ministers and Delegates
9:30 Convention Called to Order

Congregational Singing

Scripture and Prayer

Welcome

Partial Report of the Credentials Committee
9:50 President's Remarks

Appointment of Committees
Executive Committee Report
Miscellaneous Business

The Rev. Scott Sowers
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bircher
The Rev. Mike Tart
The Rev. Frank Harrison

The Rev. Gary M. Bailey

REPORTS

10:10 Foreign Missions The Rev. Harold Jones

10:25 Mount Olive College Dr. W. Burkette Raper

11:00 Congregational Singing

Offering for the Convention

Introductory Message The Rev. Steve Sprinkle

11:45 Recess for Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

1:15 Registration

1:30 Congregational Singing

Recognition of Fraternal Delegates
1:40 Hymnal Committee
1:55 Children's Home
2:10 Retirement Homes
2:15 Home Missions
2:25 Minister's Program
2:40 Church Finance
2:50 Press

The Rev. Donald Coates
The Rev. Bobby R. Taylor
The Rev. Walter J. Sutton
The Rev. David C. Hansley
The Rev. Donald Fader
The Rev. Walter Reynolds
Mr. R. Clifford Gray

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

9:00-
9:25

9:35
9:45
9:55
10:05
10:15
10:20
10:25
10:30
10:35
10:40
10:45
10:50
10:55
11:00

11:45

1:30
1:40
1:45

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1986

MORNING SESSION

9:30 Final Registration
Congregational Singing
Scripture and Prayer
Carolina Bible Institute
General Conference
Cragmont

State Sunday School Convention
State Auxiliary Convention
State Layman's League Convention
State League Convention
Historical Commission
Ministerial Association
Camp Vandemere
Treasurer's Report
Chaplain's Commission
Miscellaneous Business
Congregational Singing
Offering for the Convention
Message
Recess for Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

Congregational Singing and Prayer
Obituary Committee

Final Report of the Credentials Committee
Resolutions Committee
Nominating Committee

The Rev. Tony McLamb
Dr. Floyd B. Cherry
The Rev. Harry Jones
The Rev. John R. Williams
The Rev. Bass Mitchell
Miss Sarah Willoughby
Mr. Paul Beamon
The Rev. Ed Thornton
The Rev. Ronnie V. Hobgood
The Rev. Graham Lane
The Rev. Ralph Sumner
The Rev. Ronnie V. Hobgood

The Rev. Frank Harrison

Please Note: If any Board, Commission or Committee desires to report and is not on the printed program, a representative
should see the President or Secretary to schedule a report. We kindly ask that you understand that no one was omitted purposely.

All announcements should be given in writing to our timekeepers at the table near the speaker's platform. This will enable us to
keep our Convention operating in an orderly manner.

Anyone with church letters or contributions is urged to turn these in to the Secretary as early as possible. Your cooperation will
be greatly appreciated.

REMEMBER ...

1986
Evangelism Rally

Tuesday, September 16
7:30 P.M.

College Hall
Mount Olive College

September 1986

5

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE
NEW CAMPUS

l> \H \ St MIN \K H

COLLEGE HALL

n

HEN DERSON
BUILDING

MEN'S RESTROOM

HAM1KMI

WOMEN'S HFSTK4H>M

-e-

— I — I 1 — I —

OFFICE RECEPTION OFFICE
I ' ■ ■ I l_

ELEVATOR

EXIT

OROIINO PLAN

CONVENTION SITE

The 1986 Annual Session of
the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will
Baptists will be held in College
Hall, located on the Mount
Olive College campus. The
location and design of the
building are given for you
below.

(ENTRANCE)

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

DELEGATES

Delegates are the official representatives of
each local church to the North Carolina State
Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. Each
delegate may represent as many as 100
members of a local church. It is their votes, com-
bined with the votes of ministers, conference
representatives, and Convention officials, that
determine the business of our Convention. These
people— your delegates— are important!

Delegates should be elected or chosen based
on their ability to represent your church and its
people, rather than on the basis of extra time and
a willingness to attend. Delegates should be
aware of their selection as your representatives
and that you are counting on them to represent
you! It is impossible for you to be fully
represented without the presence of your
delegates throughout the entire Convention.
Representation on one day only will not give you

a voice in the total operation of the Convention,
because business is conducted on both days.

Many times the local church is faced with a
problem: those who they would like to represent
them are not available. Perhaps if the impor-
tance of your representation is explained and
demonstrated in the selection, more would be
willing to serve. The church might also consider
paying the expenses that a person would incur in
serving as a delegate. Perhaps the expenditure
of funds and the request for a report following
the Convention will help keep the importance of
the work of delegates at the Convention in proper
perspective !

What can the church do about those who just
want to go to the Convention? They are welcome
to attend. The Convention encourages visitors.
However, only your official delegates will be
voting. Be represented this year; let your church
participate. It is our Convention!

September 1986

7

Inviting You to Join

A Celebration of Praise

State Convention Missions Rally
Foreign Missions Department in Charge

September 17, 1986; 7:30 P.M.

College Hall, Mount Olive College

For the first time we will have visitors
with us from our work in the Philippines.

The Rev. Pio dela Rosa, president of the Free Will
Baptist Church, Philippines, will bring greetings
from the church in the Philippines.

The Rev. Roger Malinao, president of Palawan Bi-
ble College in the Philippines, will deliver the
message at the Rally.

The Grubbs family will be commissioned for service to the Philip-
pines.

There will be special music and testimonies. Former missionaries will be in charge of the Rally. This
should be the greatest Rally we have ever held. Your attendance will make it possible— come and meet
these our brothers from the Philippines. Come and bring a large number from your church. Don't miss
this historical occasion.

Remember your special offerings assure the continued progress of missions in our church world-wide.

Prayer requests: Pray for the Mission Rally, for the speakers, special music, weather, attendance, and for
the best offering ever.

8

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

or

How Do You

Catch

A Falling Star?

by Jim Smoke

One of the toughest things
we face in the Christian
community is dealing with the
well publicized sins of our Chris-
tian leaders. Leading the current
list of these sins is immorality,
financial indiscretion, homosex-
uality and divorce. Scarcely a
week goes by before we hear of
one more known or unknown
shepherd of the flock who has got-
ten sidetracked while attempting
to serve God. Since we do not have
a Christian version of The Na-
tional Enquirer or The Star, our
media hotline is through the well-
known gossip grapevine that
twists and turns through the
Christian community. "Did you
hear about . . ." gets our im-
mediate attention in both church
pews as well as church parking
lots. We seem more than eager to
hear the latest and pass it along
the Christian conduit to those with
itching ears. We find ourselves

September 1986

willing and eager to listen with
rapt interest to the decline and
fall of those in Christian leader-
ship, forgetting too quickly that
we may have elevated them into
that same leadership by purchas-
ing their books and records,
watching their film series or at-
tending their seminars. We even
lined up to tug on their sleeve and
have them sign our very own
book.

The Christian community, not
unlike the secular community,
has created its own star system.
We have crowned our heroes and
support them vigorously as long
as they ride white horses. We drop
their names with everyday fre-
quency as we listen to them on
television and radio. Our financial
support of their product and per-
son can elevate them to wealth
and lifestyle that most of us only
dream of. (In many ways they
become too much like the golden
calf idols of the Old Testament. )

Then it happens! One of them
falls victim to the same potholes
that loom before all of us as we
journey down the road of life. Yet,
because they were once our very
own stars, we respond through the
angry avenues of our emotion. We
judge, we indict, we condemn, we
ignore, we discuss. We load our
verbal six-gun and shoot harsh
words at them until they are all
but dead. Then we go out and look
for a new hero and a new star to
place in our Christian galaxy.

Paul the apostle lived in a
culture that apparently operated
much like ours. His letter to the
Galatians (6:1) speaks to this
same issue of dented and bruised
Christian leadership.

"Brethren, even if a man is
caught in any trespass, you who
are spiritual, restore such a one in
a spirit of gentleness; looking to
yourself, lest you also be
tempted." Strong words that
seem to have fallen through the

(Turn the page)

9

cracks in our contemporary
Christian community. There are
two key thoughts in here for you
and me. The first is restoration.
Loving care has restoration as its
end goal. As I listen, I seldom
hear people talking about restor-
ing those who tumble by the
roadside. Instead, I hear gossip
and condemnation.

True, restoration is a process
which requires a willing, repen-
tant spirit on the other end. Unfor-
tunately, too many of the fallen
look for vindication and justifica-
tion rather than restoration. But
while waiting for the repentant
heart, there are at least three
things we can do:

1. Stop the gossip. It brings only
harm to the Kingdom of God;

2. Pray for the fallen. Our prayers
can cross all the miles and barriers;

3. Write them a note of encourage-
ment. Let them know you are praying
and believing for restoration ... for
the healing of wounds.

Then when repentance does
come, accept it. Jesus said that
unless we forgive others, He will
not forgive us.

The second key through for us
from Paul's passage is this:
"Look to yourself, lest you also be
tempted." There but for the grace
of God fall I into the same swamp !
If I look to myself and take care of
shoring up my own life, I will have
no time left over for the sport of
passing judgment on others. Their
indiscretions will be my warning
signs.

How do you catch a falling star?
You reach out in love and pray
that your love will be received.
You pray for that person that God
will use you or someone else as a
healing and restoring catalyst of
love.

A stumbling brother or sister in
leadership is not a time for a trial
and sentencing. It is a time for
love and understanding and a
raising of the goalposts of restora-
tion.

How do you catch a falling star?
Gently!

—Reprinted from Spirit! November/
December, 1985.

WHAT MAKES
A CHURCH GREAT?

by Alan Highers

LOYALTY TO THE
WORD OF GOD

In order for a church to be
great, it must be loyal to the Word
of God. After the church was
established in Jerusalem on the
first Pentecost after the death,
burial, and Resurrection of
Christ, we read "And they con-
tinued stedfastly in the apostles'
doctrine" (Acts 2:42). John said,
"Whosoever transgresseth, and
abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that
abideth in the doctrine of Christ,
he hath both the Father and the
Son" (2 John 9). It makes no dif-
ference how large a church may
be, nor how many buses it
operates, nor how much bene-
volent work it does, if it does not
first manifest loyalty to the Word
of God, it is not truly a great
church.

Fruitful
A church must not only be
faithful, however, but also fruit-
ful. We cannot emphasize loyalty
to the truth too much, but that
loyalty must be coupled with zeal.
We are to be "zealous of good
works" (Titus 2:14). Remember,
Paul did not say "jealous" of good
works, but "zealous." He ad-
monished the Galatians, "And let

us not be weary in well doing"
(Galatians 6:9). Solomon said,
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to
do, do it with thy might" (Ec-
clesiastes 9 : 10) . We must not only
preach and teach the truth, but we
must live the truth. John wrote to
Gaius, saying, "I have no greater
joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth" (3 John 4). Paul
told Titus that we are "to be ready
to every good work" (Titus 3:1).

Generous
For true greatness a church
must be liberal— no, not liberal in
doctrine, but liberal in giving. Of
the Macedonians Paul said, "But
first gave their own selves to the
Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5). Paul
further stated, "He which soweth
sparingly shall reap also sparing-
ly; and he which soweth bountiful-
ly shall reap also bountifully"
(2 Corinthians 9:6). We receive as
we give; if we give little, we
receive little. If we give much, we
receive much. How difficult it is to
learn that simple lesson! Jesus
said, "Give, and it shall be given
unto you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken together, and
running over, shall men give into
your bosom" (Luke 6:38).

Fellowship

Greatness in a congregation is
also dependent, to a large extent,
upon the spirit of its members.
Paul always had special affection
for the Philippians, and he said,
"I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you" (Philip-
pians 1:3). Some congregations
are able to cultivate a spirit of
closeness and a bond of fellowship
which distinguishes them. A man
recently told me of the closeness
and joy he found in a congregation
in another state where he lived.
He had visited other churches but
never had he found such a spirit
again. Having held meetings in
that congregation, I knew whereof
he spoke. We need to develop a
spirit whereby we are all "of one
heart and of one soul " ( Acts 4 : 32 ) .

—Reprinted from The Sword of Truth.

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

1986 Superb all
Tournament

....

*^Sflr. ctober 2, 1980, marked
tne beginning of a new
and exciting event for Cragmont.
On that day, the first Cragmont
Superball Golf Tournament was
held. Although support and par-
ticipation lacked luster, en-
thusiasm was high.

The 1980 edition featured 26
golfers, offered $500 in prizes,
took in $150 in contributions, and
showed tournament profits of
$280. Seventeen people were pres-
ent to eat a meal that cost $150 to
have catered. The tournament
was beset by cloudy, cool weather
conditions which ultimately
yielded a chilly late afternoon
shower. The atmosphere was
more like a Saturday afternoon
golf outing than that of a tourna-
ment. In spite of the minimal suc-
cess, the participants expressed
much enthusiasm and urged that
the tournament be continued. It
has— and it has grown beyond
anyone's expectations.

The 1986 edition, the seventh,
was expanded to take place on two
days, with three different tee
times. It was held at Happy
Valley in Wilson, August 14-15.
Over 260 golfers took part in the
event, which yielded approx-
imately $3,600 for Cragmont.

(Turn the page)

September 1986

11

(Top left) Jordan Smith (left) receives a trophy from Rick Watson
(center) and Craig Simmons; (top right) Donnie Watson (center)
receives his prizes from Craig Simmons and Rick Watson; (bottom
left) a winning tournament team; (bottom right) part of the pig picking
crowd.

Members of the winning teams
were as follows: First place,
Mickey Grizzard, Ralph
Broughton, Bill Hunter, Bill
Isaacs; second place, Jody Jones,
Russell Williams, Kay Manning,
Alton Absher; third place, George
Vick, Moon Mullens, Joe Bland,
Hilda Absher. The handicapped
morning winners were Drew
Nelson, Robin Grant, John Prit-
chett, Zeb Musgrave; evening
winners, Marvin Waters, Eddie
Kwasnik, Neal Spruill, Clifton
Cay ton.

Jordan Smith was recognized
for having come closest to pin

12

number 6 and for the longest drive
of the tournament; Donnie Wat-
son, who aced hole number 10,
was recognized for having come
closest to the pin.

Participation in and support of
this tournament allows one to see
that this is more than recreation.
It has developed into a ministry of
outreach, witness and awareness.
God has worked through this
ministry and blessed it far beyond
the dreams of even the most
courageous golf enthusiast who
participated in that 1980 tourna-
ment.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

PASTORS' AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENTS' BANQUET

Sponsored by North Carolina Free Will
Baptist Sunday School Convention

September 5, 1986
King's Restaurant
Kinston, North Carolina
7 P.M.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Jesse McDaniels
President, Lenoir Community College

Dinner: Combination Plate
$5.50 (Payable at the Door)

Pastors, Superintendents, and Their Wives
Are Invited and Encouraged to Attend

For Additional Information: Contact Jack Bircher

638-8321

September 1986

IS

FOREIGN MISSIONS
EVANGELISM IN JUNE 1986

by Dr. E. M. hall

Indian deacons with Bibles for distribution.

Evangelism can never be The total membership in our

done apart from Jesus Christ. church will soon cross the

In the Old Testament, Christ is figures of 9000 and a large part

prepared for us; in the Gospels, of this membership is from

Christ is portrayed for us; in those who were evangelized

the Book of Acts, Christ is pro- within this span of eleven

claimed unto us ; in the years. During this church year

Epistles, Christ is perceived for alone 391 souls have been

us; in the Book of Revelation, brought in the fold of our Lord

Christ is preeminent among us. Jesus Christ. Though the task

Our faith and doctrine of the ahead of us is becoming more
church lay more emphasis and more difficult, we are not
upon evangelism and so the led by fear, but of power, and of
church in India believes and love and of a sound mind,
acts accordingly. Since the Although, we do not know the
very beginning of the church future but we know that the
work in India we made the Lord will continue to reign and
month of June of our special ef- He is always with us according
forts to evangelize people at to His promise,
various places of interest. In Our Ministerial Council had
Hindi, we say that a "witness- wisely decided to enrich people
ing church is a living church" around their circuits with the
and in this very context our gospel, so as to be more effec-
church organization, though in tive in their functions as
minority, is very well known in ministers and evangelists in the
the length and breadth of the rest of the year. Our past ex-
country, perience has shown that with

the mass preaching of the Word
of God, our circuit head-
quarters have become well
known and the ministry of our
church is proving to be fruitful.
Therefore, we again launched a
strong campaign, circuit-wise,
in six groups of six each, fully
equipped with literature, New
Testaments and the Bibles.
They visited 329 villages in a
period of little more than three
weeks and covered approx-
imately 300 miles. Our
ministers and deacons are not
as ill-equipped as they were
before, since the Board Of Mis-
sions has provided many of
them with bicycles, which is a
common conveyance befitting
the rural situation of our coun-
try, and also with substantial
material for preaching and
handing out to the seekers. Ac-
cording to a rough estimate, not
less than 164,500 people came in
contact who were challenged
for their eternity. We are ex-
cited that those who were con-
victed last year were more
helpful to accompany the
evangelists from one place to
the other. We feel abundantly
blessed that 12 out of such a lot
had received Christ as their
personal Saviour.

The group method introduced
by us is of immense success
and encouraging to our people
so far as their effective
preaching and security is con-
cerned. A good example of this
are the numerous Bible studies
and evangelistic fellowships in
homes in various countries to-
day. Such was the experience of
Peter in the home of Cornelius
(Acts 10:24-48).

Our ministers and deacons
continue a follow-up program
during the rest of the months,
making sure that decisions for
Christ where made are proper-
ly taken care of and that the
souls who commit themselves
do not go astray.

Our country so desperately
needs Christ. At the moment

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

only about 3% of the total population of our country are His
followers. However, mindful of our own needs, we acknowledge
with penitence that we have fallen far short of giving as strong and
urgent a witness as our Lord demands amongst our countrymen. In
this effort the Board of Foreign Missions is a big shareholder. They
support us financially and we toil hard physically !

PRESIDENT RETURNS FROM YEAR'S LEAVE

by Fred Baker

The Rev. Ludgerio (Roger) E. Malinao and his family at their homecoming party.

The President of Palawan Bi-
ble College, the Rev. Ludgerio
E. Malinao, and his family
were greeted by friends and
relatives at the Puerto
Princesa City airport on April
30, 1986. Following the airport
welcome everyone enjoyed
lunch and a welcome home pro-
gram at the Palawan Bible Col-
lege Campus where the
Malinao family resides.

Mr. Malinao, his wife,
Pablita, and their two children,
Maricar and Marvin, have been
living in Malabon, Metro
Manila, for the past year. He
has been studying at the Far
East Advanced School of
Theology working on his
Masters Program. On May 1,
1986, Mr. Malinao resumed his
duties as President of the Col-
lege. Mrs. Malinao resumed
her duties as kitchen super-
visor when PBC opened in
June. Marvin will be studying
in grade two and Maricar in
grade three this year.

September 1986

Thank you for praying for the
Malinaos during their study
leave of absence. Please con-
tinue to pray for them and
God's leadership as they labor
at the College to help prepare
laborers for Christ's vineyard.

SIXTH GRADUATION
EXERCISES

by Fred Baker

The Sixth Graduation Exer-
cises of Palawan Bible College
were held on March 26, 1986, at
the College campus. Special
speakers for this occasion were
the Revs. Pio dela Rosa and
Ludgerio E. Malinao. Each
brought challenging messages
to the graduates, parents,
relatives, and friends. Eleven
graduating students received
an Associate of Biblical Educa-
tion Diplomas. Valedictorian of
the graduating class was Alex
Peter Flor; salutatorian was
Dios dado Manzano. The stu-
dent of the year award is given

to the most outstanding student
picked from the entire student
body. This year's Student of the
Year Award went to Ruben
Flor, a freshman.

In the faculty, Miss Beatriz
Rodriguez Manzano was
presented a five-year service
award. Miss Manzano has
resigned her position with the
College at the close of the
school year to pursue her own
interest. Also, all the students
selected by secret ballot the
teacher of the year. This year's
award of teacher of the year
was presented to Missionary
Willem van der Plas for his
outstanding work. Palawan Bi-
ble College was very pleased to
present to Missionaries Willem
and Lydia van der Plas a
special award for their
benevolence to the College this
1985-86 school year.

The Graduation was held out-
side in front of the Administra-
tion Building. Everyone en-
joyed refreshments and
fellowship following the pro-
gram.

Palawan Bible College is the
former Palawan Bible In-
stitute, which was founded in
1979. In June of 1985, the two-
year institute entered into the
college division of higher
education, changing its name to
Palawan Bible College. The
College offers the student a
choice of three bachelor ma-
jors: (1) a Bachelor of Chris-
tian Ministry in Bible and
Theology, (2) a Bachelor of
Christian Ministry in Christian
Education, and (3) a Bachelor
of Christian Ministry in Church
Music. The College also con-
tinues to offer the two-year
Associate of Biblical Education
degree.

Enrollment for the '86-87
school year was June 14, 1986.
Palawan Bible College will
award its first bachelor
degrees to the graduating class
in March, 1987.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

WE'LL BE THERE!

Where? At the State Conven-
tion in September. We'll have a
display. Come by and learn
more about the programs we
offer your Sunday School. The
Field Secretary will be at the
display to talk with you, set up
meetings with your church, and
explore ways we can be of ser-
vice to you. See you there!

DEADLINE:
DECEMBER 1, 1986

For what? Nominating one or
more of your Sunday School
teachers to be Teacher of the
Year. For all the materials and
information you need, write or
call: Bass Mitchell, Field
Secretary, Route 7, Box 471,
Goldsboro, NC 27530; 734-8378.

PUT IT ON
YOUR CALENDAR

What? March 7, 1987! That's
the date for the next meeting of
the State Sunday School Con-
vention.

The theme will be, "A Grow-
ing Sunday School." The
workshops will be related to the
theme. The workshops will in-
clude evangelizing children,
youth, and adults through the
Sunday School. The workshop
for ministers and superin-
tendents will set forth practical
ways for helping a Sunday
School grow. Additional
workshops on a variety of
topics will also be offered.

Read The Free Will Baptist
for further information. Plan
now to attend! You'll be glad
you did!

TRAINING PROGRAMS
OFFERED

Your Sunday School Conven-
tion has a variety of training
programs for Sunday School of-
ficers and teachers. These pro-
grams are designed to equip
them with the knowledge and
skills they need to carry out
their ministries.

Our certification program
consists of two training pro-
grams for teachers and one for
superintendents and ministers.
The training involves guided
reading, seminars, and classes.
We have a booklet that gives all
the details. Write or call the
Field Secretary for all the
booklets you need.

The Field Secretary also of-
fers a variety of workshops
helpful for training Sunday
School workers and improving
your whole Sunday School pro-
gram. These workshops are
developed and designed to ad-
dress the individual needs and
concerns of each Sunday
School. See the last issue of The
Free Will Baptist for a list of
them.

Also, we offer workshops and
seminars at our annual conven-
tion. They are very practical
and have been meaningful for
those who have participated.

One of the essentials for an
effective and growing Sunday
School is trained workers. The
training programs are
available! There is no excuse
for not having trained workers?
Take advantage of these pro-
grams! It will make a dif-
ference in your Sunday School!

assessment of where the Sun-
day School has been, where it is
now, where it's headed, and
ways to renew it. It's an ex-
cellent resource for Sunday
School councils and boards of
Christian education.

This book can be ordered
through any of our bookstores.

IDEAS

Absentees

The article on the next page,
"Did You Miss Me?" is on the
importance of letting absentees
know they are missed. Make
copies of the article for the
members of your Sunday
School council and teachers.
Use it as a springboard for
discussion in your next
meeting.

Recognition Banquet

This is a great way to honor
your teachers and officers of
the past year and your new
ones. It's a banquet for them
and the whole church in their
honor. It can be held after the
morning service or on Sunday
evening. It's a good way to
thank them, motivate them,
and emphasize to the whole
church the importance of the
Sunday School.

BOOK REVIEW

Renewing the Sunday School
and the CCD. It's edited by D.
Campbell Wyckoff. It was
published by Religious Educa-
tion Press in 1986.

A word of explanation is in
order. "CCD" stands for "The
Confraternity of Christian Doc-
trine." This is an organization
in the Roman Catholic Church
that's devoted to the religious
education of Catholic Chris-
tians. So this book is for both
Protestants and Catholics.

There are eleven chapters in
the book. Four of them are on
the CCD. The remainder con- -
centrate on the Sunday School.

This book is an excellent

A Sunday School Bulletin

You cannot promote your
Sunday School too much!
Here's another way to promote
it.

Make a bulletin, newsletter,
or flier to give out in your open-
ing assembly each Sunday. It
could have the following in it:
announcements relating to
your Sunday School, class
meetings and trips, statistics
on attendance, list of new of-
ficers and teachers, class and
teacher of the week, comics
relating to the Sunday School,
and unlimited other items.

For a sample of such a pro-
motional paper, write to the
Field Secretary.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

"Did You Miss Me?"

by Bass Mitchell

That's what an elderly lady asked a
superintendent as he greeted her at Sunday
School one Sunday morning. How embarrassed
he was to realize he didn't know she had been
gone!

One of the problems in any size Sunday
School is that persons can often be absent
without really being missed. When that happens,
something is very wrong!

Every person should feel such a part of the
Sunday School that they know they are missed
when absent. We all need to be missed and told
so. It says, "You're important to us. We care
about you. We love you." Who doesn't need to
feel that way?

DISTURBING DISCOVERIES

As I began to think about and do research on
this problem, I made some disturbing
discoveries. Every week each Sunday School has
quite a few persons absent for a variety of
reasons. The majority of the Sunday Schools are

September 1986

doing little if anything to say to these absentees,
"We missed you!"

I was dismayed to find that it's not uncom-
mon in most classes to have persons who have
been absent for over a month! Yet, no one seems
to know why or bothers to contact them.

Many Sunday Schools have no absentee
follow-up policy. Nor do they provide absentee
materials to the classes. Following up on
absentees is just a "small" detail many Sunday
Schools have overlooked.

Does this mean that we do not care about
them or miss them? In some cases it does!
However, I think the reason for this is that we
just assume absentees know we miss them. But
how will they know unless they are told and
shown?

How can you meet this need? The rest of this
article will try to answer that question, along
with sharing some creative ways other Sunday
Schools are saying, "We missed you!"

(Turn the page)

19

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

AN ABSENTEE POLICY

You need to draft a policy statement on
absentee follow-up. It can be done by your Sun-
day School Council, Board of Christian Educa-
tion, or your pastor and superintendent.

The following is an example of such a policy.

1. Time should be taken in each class session to identi-
fy absentees. An effort should be made to determine
the reasons for the absences, especially those due to
illness or some other crisis.

2. Each absentee should be contacted every week. This
should be done as early in the week as possible.

3. Suggested means of contact: cards, letters, calls,
and visits. Classes are encouraged to be creative in
their ways of saying, "We missed you!"

4. Each teacher is expected to see to it that the above
procedures are followed each week, as well as set-
ting an example in personally following up absen-
tees. However, this is the responsibility of all
class members.

5. The superintendent will be responsible for explain-
ing this policy, seeing that it's followed, and sup-
plying classes with absentee materials as needed.
Also, he or she can assist in the actual following
up of absentees, as well as following up on absent
teachers.

6. The purpose of this policy is not to inflict guilt on
absentees. It is a practical means of saying and
showing that we care!

7. In the course of contacting absentees, you may dis-
cover persons with special needs. If appropriate,
share these with the class and pastor so that
further ministry may be given.

AN ABSENTEE PACKET

Now you will face the problem of how to get
this policy and the absentee materials to the
classes. Here's one way.

Purchase a box of large zip lock plastic bags.
Print your policy or guidelines for absentee
follow-up on a colored piece of paper. Next you
staple this paper to the inside of the bag. It can
easily be read through the clear plastic.

Put the following materials in the bag:
absentee cards, church stationary, a church
directory if you have one, stamps, and a pen.
You will want to use different absentee cards for
the various age groups.

This packet contains all the materials and in-
formation the classes need. It should be kept in
each class so that it's available each Sunday.

BE CREATIVE!

Cards and calls can become mere routine.
Encourage your classes to be creative. It's a
greater expression of caring.

Let your class make a banner. It could have
the person's name on it, a message from the
class, personal messages from class members,
and the signature of class members. This is
especially good for children and youth who are
sick. It can be put up on their wall.

Why not use a cassette or video tape to
record a message from your class? I heard of a
senior high class that regularly does this. They
have great fun and fellowship doing it.

I remember one video they did. It was their
version of a Christian music video. They made
up the words and the music to express how they
felt about their class and absent class members.
Now that's creative!

Let your class make the absentee cards. This
could be done by all age groups. Let them make
these during a lesson on caring.

Let each person in the class write a personal
note or letter to the absentees. This is an
especially effective way to say, "We missed
you! " The letters can be mailed or taken to the
absentees.

Do you have anyone in your church, who is
skilled in the art of calligraphy? Let him or her
design and write some absentee cards.

One teacher brings her camera to class. She
takes pictures of the children waving or holding
up messages to absentees. The children sign the
back of the pictures. The pictures are then sent
to the absentees.

CONCLUSION

"Did you miss me? ' ' That's a question no one
in the Sunday School should ever have to ask!

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE REPORTS A
YEAR OF SIGNIFICANCE AND CHANGE

Mount Olive College Presi-
dent W. Burkette Raper
characterizes fiscal year
1985-86 "as one of extraor-
dinary significance and
change" in his annual report to
the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will
Baptists.

SENIOR
COLLEGE PROGRAM

Dr. Raper notes that the ma-
jor achievement of the past
year was the development of
Mount Olive into a four-year
college. The year culminated
with the awarding of the first
baccalaureate degrees on May
10. Approximately 1300 people
attended the graduation exer-
cises. Baccalaureate degrees
were awarded to 49 students,
and 76 received associate
degrees during the historic
ceremony in College Hall.
Graduation speaker, the
Honorable James B. Hunt Jr.,
called it "the greatest day in
the 259-year history of Original
Free Will Baptists."

The report summarizes other
phases of the College including
a projected increase in enroll-
ment and the availability of
financial aid.

Students received approx-
imately $1,508,000 in financial
aid during 1985-86 from federal,
state and College sources. For
the upcoming 1986-87 year, the
Legislative Tuition Grant has
been increased to $1000 for
North Carolina students.
Qualified Free Will Baptist
students are eligible for an an-
nual $1500 Free Will Baptist
Tuition Grant. These two pro-
grams together are worth
$10,000 over a four-year period.

Established last year, the
Charter Library Patrons pro-
gram was developed to help
bring the total library collec-
tion to 50,000 volumes. Donors

September 1986

who contribute $25 per month
for 40 months, or a total of
$1000, are recognized as
Library Patrons. To raise the
required $400,000, the program
needs 400 patrons. More than
120 patrons have made gifts or
pledges through July.

ENDOWMENTS AND
GIFT SUPPORT

Forty-one new endowments
were established last year,
bringing the total to 261 endow-
ment funds. Endowment in-
creased by $421,471 from July
1985— June 1986, for a total of
$2,243,878. In addition to the
above funds, the College
qualified for a $500,000 Endow-
ment Matching Grant from the
United States Office of Educa-
tion.

Voluntary gifts and bequests
for all purposes set a new
record of $1,503,369 during the
fiscal year. Donors included
Free Will Baptist Churches and
church organizations, $235,633;
Free Will Baptist individuals
and families, $561,067;
charitable foundations, $68,000;
business and industry, $179,952;
and individual friends, $458,667.

SERVICE TO THE CHURCH

Dr. Raper listed services to
the church which include pro-
viding a senior college for Free
Will Baptists, removing the
financial barrier to education
for Free Will Baptist young
people and ministers, and sup-
porting other denominational
enterprises in the advancement
of their work. The College also
co-sponsors an annual two-day
Ministers' Institute; provides
pulpit supply (123 church ap-
pointments last year); and of-
fers night classes, extension
courses and workshops for the
benefit of both ministers and
lay persons.

"Beyond its many specific

services, Mount Olive College
helps to provide a positive iden-
tity and image for Free Will
Baptists throughout the state,
the nation and the world,"
states Dr. Raper.

A QUEST FOR THE BEST

In the report Dr. Raper an-
nounces the theme for the new
year at Mount Olive College,
"Our Quest for the Best."

"The future depends upon
our uniting two considera-
tions," writes Dr. Raper. "The
College must be worthy of what
it asks, and the Free Will Bap-
tist Church must believe that
the College merits what it
needs. The quest for the best
must be a joint venture."

The report cites the quest for
the best in education, service to
the church, gift support and in
Christian fellowship.

In education— new majors
must be added, including
music, teacher education, the
sciences, mathematics and
others.

In service to the church— Dr.
Raper envisions establishing a
Christian Resource Center at
Mount Olive that will coor-
dinate services to the church in-
cluding counseling, spiritual
life development, youth pro-
grams, Bible study, Christian
camping and a host of other
programs. For all church pro-
grams the $10 million campus,
including Eagles Nest, is
available for use by the Free
Will Baptist denomination.

In gift support— the 1986-87
operating budget of the College
will be approximately $5
million. To balance the budget,
$950,000 will be needed in con-
tributions. In addition, the Col-
lege must continue to develop
its endowment (a $10 million
endowment must be built by the
earliest possible date), meet
(Turn the page)

21

debt obligations on College
Hall, and raise funds for a Col-
lege Union.

In Christian fellowship— the
report notes that the purpose of
the annual college dinners is
"to assist churches in
generating gift support and to
foster a spirit of Christian
fellowship among our people."
The dinners which began in
1963 have totaled $2,186,688.
Under the direction of Mrs.
Jean F. Ackiss, the goal for the
17 dinners in 1986 is $210,000.

A special feature of the din-
ners is the Bridge Builder Clubs
which recognize donors who
make unrestricted gifts as
follows: College Club, $100-499;
President's Club, $500-999; and
Trustees' Club, $1000 or more.

"The work of Mount Olive
College far exceeds our human
ability to perform it," declares
Dr. Raper. "We look at the past
with gratitude and the future
with faith. We thank God for all
His blessings, and we thank His
people who have invested in His
work at Mount Olive College."

OUR "QUEST FOR
THE BEST" LAUNCHES
COLLEGE DINNERS

This year's College dinner
theme, "A Quest for the Best,"
weaves its challenge into the
very fabric of Mount Olive Col-
lege. Academics, spiritual life,
student life, athletics, church
support— in fact, all phases of
the College are joining together
in the quest.

As Jean Ackiss, coordinator
of the dinners puts it, "For
years we talked about becom-
ing a four-year college, and
now we are one. We have not
reached where we want to be.
We're still seeking to fulfill the
quest to make Mount Olive the
BEST!"

Contributions from the 17 an-
nual College dinners have
traditionally provided out-
standing unrestricted gift sup-
port to Mount Olive College.

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

These high school students from Spring Hill Free Will Baptist Church seem to be
excited about being on the Mount Olive College campus. They're in College Hall for the
1985 Wayne County college dinner.

Last year gifts from the dinners
reached an unprecedented
$202,637.

The 1986-87 goal is $210,000

the challenge is clearly set.

One of the ways available to
help Free Will Baptists invest
in the work of Christian higher
education at Mount Olive Col-
lege is through the Bridge
Builder Clubs.

"The Bridge Builder pro-
gram began in 1984," says Mrs.
Ackiss, "when the College in-
vited donors to make un-
restricted gifts of $100 or more
at the College dinners.
Individuals, families and
church groups who made gifts
or pledges of $100 or more
were recognized as Bridge
Builders."

The idea caught on, and by
the closing of the 1984 dinners,
325 Bridge Builders were
named. Last year 465 Bridge

Builders responded, and three
new Bridge Builder Clubs were
offered: College Club, $100-499;
President's Club, $500-999; and
Trustees' Club, $1000 or more.

Through the College dinners,
Mount Olive provides members
of its sponsoring church the op-
portunity to bring their gifts to
their county dinners; to be a
part of the tremendous "Quest
to Be the Best."

"Our quest results from the
realization that this is a
decisive moment in history for
Original Free Will Baptists and
the human race," says Presi-
dent W. Burkette Raper. "Peo-
ple are seeking meaning in
their lives and a foundation
upon which to build their lives.
Our success depends upon peo-
ple of noble spirit who are will-
ing to invest their resources in
the Christian education of
young men and women."

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Free Will Baptist family visits Mount Olive College— Laura Lamm, Mount Olive College
admissions counselor, left, chats with Barbara Robbins and her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Franklin Robbins, of Tarboro. The family toured the campus during one of three
freshmen orientation days held this summer. Miss Robbins is a rising senior at Tar-
boro High School, and the family attends Tarboro Church. Freshmen orientation days
were planned to help incoming students learn about Mount Olive and see the campus
firsthand, but campus visits may be arranged at anytime. Free Will Baptist students
are eligible to receive a $1500 yearly Free Will Baptist Tuition Grant to attend Mount
Olive College. Students may enroll for the fall semester through September 1 1 (photo
by Patti O'Donoghue).

BRIDGE BUILDERS, WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Bridge Builders, mark your calendars! The date: Saturday,
September 13, at 12:00 noon. The place: College Hall.

The occasion is the second annual Bridge Builders event. A
delicious luncheon and important announcements are planned
for the individuals, families, and church groups who par-
ticipated in the Bridge Builders program through the 1985 Col-
lege dinners.

Bridge Builders, look for your invitations! You will be our
honored guests at this very special event.

NIGHT COURSES -A SPECIAL SERVICE
TO FREE WILL BAPTISTS

Night courses are planned at Mount Olive College as a special
service to Free Will Baptist ministers and lay persons. The courses
are scheduled to assist church members who cannot attend
regularly scheduled classes during the day.

Below is the list of courses. For more information, contact the
Rev. Frank R. Harrison, director of church relations, Mount Olive
College, Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365; telephone,
919/658-2502, office; or 919/658-9363, home.

Pastoral Ministry — Tuesday, begins September 2, 6:00-9:30 p.m., Room 211, Hen-
derson. This course is an introductory course to the pastoral ministry (Frank R.
Harrison, Instructor, 3 semester hours).

English Composition— Tuesday-Thursday, begins September 2, 7:45-9:15 p.m.,
Room 111, Henderson (Mrs. Elizabeth Braswell, Instructor, 3 semester hours).

Devotional Classics — Thursday, begins September 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Room 211,
Henderson. This course is a study of some of the great classics and authors of
devotional literature (Dr. Robert Price, Instructor, 1 semester hour).

Tuesday-Thursday Courses in Religion:

Religion in America — Begins September 2, 9:30-10:45 a.m., Everett Room, Library

(Dr. Michael R. Pelt, Instructor, 3 semester hours).
Life and Teachings of Jesus — Begins September 2, 2:00-3:25 p.m., Everett Room,

Library (Dr. Robert Price, Instructor, 3 semester hours).
Introduction to Old Testament— Begins September 2, 2:00-3:15 p.m., Room 201,

College Hall (Dr. Michael R. Pelt, Instructor, 3 semester hours).

September 1986

THEME FOR 1986
MINISTERS' INSTITUTE
-"CHURCH GROWTH
IS GOD'S WILL"

by the Rev. Frank R. Harrison

"It is God's will for your
church to grow." That state-
ment opened the Ministers' In-
stitute at Mount Olive College,
August 4-5. The annual Institute
is co-sponsored by the North
Carolina Ministerial Associa-
tion of Free Will Baptists and
Mount Olive College.

Dr. Harry H. Fowler, founder
of Creative Growth Dynamics
and a leading church growth
consultant, spoke to the
ministers and lay persons on
the subject of why some
churches grow and some mere-
ly exist and drift. He pointed
out that 90 percent of all
churches are not growing, and
85 percent of all churches never
grow beyond their size at 15
years of age.

However, these trends can be
changed through the science of
church growth. Church leaders
may investigate and under-
stand those dynamics that lend
themselves to the . . . "planting,
multiplication, function and
health of Christian churches as
they relate specifically to the
effective implementation of
God's commission to make
disciples of all nations."

Dr. Fowler earned his doc-
torate in church growth from
Fuller Theological Seminary in
Pasadena, California. He
studied under Dr. C. Peter
Wagner, Dr. Donald McGav-
ran, and Dr. Win Arn, world
leaders in church growth and
evangelism.

Leading the group in
understanding those factors
that contribute to a positive
biblical growing church, Dr.
Fowler examined the New
Testament principles of church
growth.

The approximately 45
ministers and lay persons
(Turn the Page)

23

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

1986 Institute participants.

Dr. Fowler (left) talks with the Rev.
A. B. Bryan, while the Rev. Frank Ray
Harrison looks on.

worked out some church
growth goals and objectives to
be implemented in their local
churches during the coming
year.

Dr. Fowler plans to meet
with those who attended the in-
stitute at a later date for follow-
up and discussion.

Welcome Free Will Baptist State Convention— Mount Olive College is pleased to host the
annual meeting of the North Carolina State Convention of Original Free Will Baptists September
17-18. The convention will be preceded by an "Evangelism Rally" sponsored by the Home
Mission Board at 7:30 p.m. on September 16. All sessions will be held in College Hall.

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

SUMMER'S END

The summer has passed
quickly, but not without the
lingering collections of
memories for each of our
"mental scrapbooks." The nor-
mal schedule for campus life,
even under normal conditions,
is hectic. From the very day
that children are dismissed
from public schools for the
summer months, until the very
day they return in the fall,
plans and programs are being
carried out that would send the
average American household
spinning into a nervous
"frenzy!" With an age varia-
tion from five years (our
youngest) to nineteen years of
age (our oldest), it takes a
great deal of team-planning,
coordination and cooperation
from all staff members to put
together a total, twenty-four
hour per day program that
meets the needs of thirty-three
children for an entire summer.
For example, our young people
who are fourteen years of age
or older were enlisted in the
summer work program
through Nash County. This
made it necessary to establish
on-campus work respon-
sibilities that provided at least
twenty-eight hours of work per
week for each youth. This, of
course, necessitated the
designation of supervisors at
those work sites by whom the
youth were evaluated. Also, our
garden program placed great
demands on Don Bachelor's
maintenance department, as
well as upon Cottage Super-
visors for food preparations.
Further, structured activities
were needed to help manage
the hours of free time for our
smaller children who could not
work in either of the two other
programs. Other programs in-
cluded pool scheduling and
supervision, campus recrea-
tion, and visiting week-end and
vacation coordination.

(Above) Structured programs for
younger children are a necessity; (right)
celebrating summer's end. mMM. JH^^HHI

The Lord has blessed us with an extremely smooth-operating
summer; and for this we celebrate in His goodness, and share this
blessing with you. Thank you for your continued prayers for this
ministry.

L Ifyoiiskegmtt... mafietiuji
2 If you wear it. „fia^ it up
3, Ifyoudrogft... £k£ tiujx
* If you eat outfit... wash it:

5. If you sfogonit... wi£& it ug

6. 'Tfyou o£enit... dose it.

7. If you empty it . . .ftfC it ug.
& If it rings ...answer it.

9. If it fiowCs.. .feed it.
talf it cries. Cove fa

September 1986

25

Tips for tots

Parents use these Tips for Tots with your
children who are too young to read. It is impor-
tant that you not frighten your child; but with
repeated lessons— as with play school— teach
him/her the following:

1. Never get into a car with a stranger.

2. Always play with a friend— "be a bud-
dy."

3. Do not take presents from strangers.

4. If a car pulls up where you are
playing, back away and run either home
or to a safe house.

5. Teach him/her where a safe house is if
you are going to be out.

6. Teach your child to cry loudly for help
and run if he/she is followed by foot or
by car.

7. Teach your child his name, address and
telephone number and 0 for Operator.

8. Practice dialing your number— includ-
ing area code.

9. Teach your child a magic word; and he/
she is only to go with someone who
knows the magic word. (Make it simple
and reiterate often.)

10. Never open the door when home alone.
Teach your child to dial police if person
persists.

11. Never let anyone touch them in a way
they do not like— especially in an area
covered by a bathing suit, and if they do
to tell you about it at once.

12. Assure them of your love and that they
will not be blamed if they tell you the
truth.

13. Never go anywhere without permission.

It is sometimes a better learning experience if
you teach several children at the same time.
Repeat often as young children have a short
memory span. Be sure to assure them of your
love and approval.

Tips for grade school

Now that you are a big boy or girl, here are tips
for your safety :

1. Always tell your parents where you will
be.

2. Travel in groups or with a buddy. There
is safety in numbers.

3. If you see someone hanging around the
schoolyard or the park, tell your
parents. Learn to give a good descrip-
tion—is the person tall or short, dark or
light, color of eyes and hair; if he/she
is driving, make and model of car and
license number.

4. Do not travel in dark and lonely areas.

5. Do not accept job offers or rides or gifts
from a stranger. Even if you know the
person, do not go with him/her unless
you first tell your parents and let the
person know that your parents know.

6. Do not take dares to go into lonely
places or remote areas.

7. It is no fun to run away from home.
There is nothing so terrible that you
cannot tell your parents.

8. Do not answer the door when you are
home alone or tell people that you will
be alone.

9. If someone persists in calling or trying
to get in, call the police at once.

10. Do not go up to people from cars who
ask directions, step back and tell the
occupants you do not know, and walk
rapidly away. Adults should not be ask-
ing you for directions.

11. If someone touches you in a way that
feels bad, yell and tell. It is your body
and nobody has a right to make you feel
bad— even if it is a relative or friend.
TELL and keep telling till somebody be-
lieves you.

12. Remember, YOU did nothing wrong.

13. Do not go with strangers even if they are
dressed like policemen. Insist on run-
ning home first.

14. Do not believe people who promise you a
TV career. Tell your parents if some-
body does.

15. If your parents don't believe you, tell
your teacher or someone you trust.

26

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CRAGMONT

(Top) Youth Frontier Conference/ YFA Week, which was directed by Scott and Janie Sowers; (below)
Ministers' Conference participants.

September 1986

27

NEWS BRIEFS

AFC CONFERENCE— The numbers may have been lower but the enthusiasm was high for the 1986 AFC Con-
ference at Cragmont Assembly. With a theme of "Thanksliving," our 149 campers participated in a variety of
activities teaching Christian growth.

Congratulations to Cassie McDonald from Antioch Church and to John Brinn from Sidney Church who
were selected "Campers of the Week."

The goal of the week was accomplished when 3 young souls accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour.

THE WESTERN DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY CON-
VENTION will meet on October 1
at Stancil's Chapel Church,
Johnston County. The theme of
the meeting is "That Mountaintop
Experience," with the Scripture
coming from Philippians 3:14.
The scheduled program is as
follows :

9 : 15— Registration

9:45— Hymn, "Higher Ground"

— Devotion, Alma Dale,
Spring Hill Church

— Welcome, Faye Smith,
Stancil's Chapel Church

— President's Remarks,
Donna Holland, Union
Chapel

10:15 — Hymn, "Dwelling in
Beulah Land' '

—That Mountaintop Experi-
ence Through Bene-
volence, Esther Barnes,
Little Rock Church

—That Mountaintop Experi-
ence Through Missions,
Mattie Braswell, Rains
Cross Roads Church

—That Mountaintop Experi-
ence Through Our Youth,
Nancy Boykin, Marsh
Swamp Church
ll:00-Hymn, "Love Lifted Me"

—Offering and Prayer

— Special Music, Cragmont
Choir

— Convention Message,
Pluma Sullivan, Stoney
Creek Church

12:00— Lunch

1:00— Hymn, "Glory to His

Name"
—Devotion, Marie O'Brian,

Stancil's Chapel Church
—Business

—Hymn, "Every Day With

Jesus"
—Benediction

( All Auxiliaries are asked to remember to
bring towels, wash cloths, pillows, and
twin size bed linen for the Children's
Home.)

THE FALL CONVENTION OF
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY CON-
VENTION will convene
September 27 with Reedy Branch
Church. The theme for the Con-
vention is "Trusting Our Guide"
(Proverbs 3:5-6). Registration
starts at 9:30 a.m., and the fee is
$10. (Reedy Branch Church is

28

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

located just off North Carolina 11,
behind Pitt Community College,
one mile out of Greenville. A
turkey luncheon will be served at
the cost of $3.50 per person.

Auxiliaries are reminded to
mail in advance all contributions,
including the two special offerings
for missions and Cragmont, which
are normally brought to the Con-
vention. They should be mailed to
Margaret May, 306 East Pine
Street, Farmville, NC 27828. Mail
all reports to Lois Strickland,
Route 2, Box 442, Walstonburg,
NC 27888.

It should also be noted that
the next Conference Study Course
will be given by Mattie Link on
Tuesday, November 4, at Winter-
ville Church.

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
LAYMAN'S LEAGUE CONVEN-
TION will be held at the Fremont
Church on Monday night,
September 15. A free dinner will
be served before the meeting by
the host church. All laymen are
urged to attend.

THE CENTRAL CONFERENCE
LAYMAN'S LEAGUE will meet
on Tuesday, September 16, at
Friendship Church, near Farm-
ville. Dinner will be served at
7p.m. and the meeting will follow.
All Central Conference laymen
are encouraged to attend.

MT. TABOR CHURCH, near
Creswell, will observe its annual
homecoming on Sunday, October
12. A former pastor, the Rev.
William Littleton, will bring the
message. Lunch will be served at
noon on the church lawn. There
will be a singspiration in the after-
noon.

The Rev. Frank Thigpen,
pastor, and the congregation in-
vite everyone to attend these
special services.

THE EASTERN DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY CON-
VENTION will meet at Faith
Church, Leland (near Wilmington

September 1986

NEWS BRIEFS

on Highway 74-76) on Thursday,
September 25. Registration is at
9:30 a.m.

The Rev. Pio dela Rosa, presi-
dent of the Free Will Baptist
Church in the Philippines, and the
Rev. Roger Malinao, president of
Palawan Bible College, with the
Rev. Harold Jones, director of
Foreign Missions, will be the
guest speakers. The program will
also include the presentation of a
Life Membership Award and the
installation of officers.

The theme is "One Fold, One
Shepherd — Free to Serve
Together," with theme verses,
John 10:16 and Galatians 3:28.

REVIVAL SERVICES WILL BE
HELD AT AYDEN CHURCH, 212
East Third Street, September
22-26, at 7:30 each evening. The
Rev. Craig Simmons, pastor of
First Church, Wilson, will be the
guest evangelist. There will be
special singing each night and the
public is cordially invited to at-
tend.

Ayden Church will observe its
annual homecoming day services
on Sunday, September 28. There
will be special activities during
the 11 a.m. worship service and
lunch will follow in the fellowship
hall immediately following the
service. Because of the unique
relationship the church had to the
old Ayden Seminary and Eureka
College, the alumni of these in-
stitutions are invited to attend the
special activities on September
28.

THE ALBEMARLE DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY CON-
VENTION WILL MEET WITH
Union Chapel Church, Plymouth,
on Thursday, October 16. The
theme of the Convention is "Let
Us Worship" (Psalm 95:6).

The scheduled program is as
follows—

9 : 45— Registration
10:00-Hymn, "All Hail the
Power' '
— Devotions, Mrs. Linda
Modlin

10: 15— Welcome, Mrs. Elaine
Britt

— Response, Miss Alice
Webster

— President's Greetings,
Miss Becky Jo Sumner

—Recognition of Ministers
and Visitors

—Appointment of Commit-
tees

10:30— Reading of Minutes
—Roll Call of Auxiliaries

10:45— Missions News, Home and
Foreign
—Retirement Homes Report
—Children's Home Report

— Offering for Children's
Home

--Hymn, "O Worship the
King"

11 : 25 — Special Music, Host

Auxiliary
11:30— Message, Host Auxiliary
12:00— Lunch

1:00— Hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy"
—Devotions and Memorial
Service, Mrs. Faye Davis
1:15— Mount Olive College News
—Cragmont News
—Free Will Baptist Press
News

— Superannuation News
1:50— Youth News, Mrs. Libby

Taylor
—Committee Reports

— Announcement of Next
Convention

—Miscellaneous Business

— Installation of New
Officers

—Reflections, Mrs. Eleanor
Moore

—Benediction and Adjourn-
ment

PITT COUNTY SUNDAY
SCHOOL PROGRAM SCHED-
ULED—In Cooperation with the
Rev. Bass Mitchell, field
secretary of the North Carolina
Sunday School Convention, the
Pitt County Free Will Baptist
Minister's Fellowship has
planned a program to assist Pitt
County churches improve their
Sunday School programs. The

(Turn the page)

29

Available from the
Free Will Baptist
Press and its branch
bookstores in
Wilson, New Bern,
\ and Kinston

^ $6.95

NEWS BRIEFS

program is scheduled for
September 8-10, and is for pastors,
Sunday School officers and
teachers. The objective of the
study is to address the needs of
Sunday Schools and how to deter-
mine how they might be im-
proved.

The program format will pro-
vide discussion on the following
subjects: The Ministry of the Sun-
day School, A Growing Sunday
School, and A Caring Sunday
School. Denominational Sunday
School leaders will lead the
presentations with follow-up
discussions which emphasize
practical applications.

The program will be held at
First Church, Greenville, which is
located at 2600 South Charles
Street, from 7 to 9 each evening.

Anyone having questions about
the program is encouraged to call
one of the following members of
the Program Committee: J. B.
Narron, 746-4388; Ray William-
son, 758-4356; or Bryant Hines,
355-5929.

THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING of the Free Will Baptist

Press Foundation, Inc. will be

FOLKSTONE CHURCH honored its oldest and youngest mothers
and fathers during May and June. Shown with the pastor, the Rev. Ron-
nie Parker, are Mrs. Bertha Thompson, 92, Mrs. Louise Parker, 22; Mr.
Raymond Hartsfield Sr., 91, and Mr. Greg Parker, 24.

held on Tuesday, September 2,
1986, at 10 a.m., in the Multi-
purpose Room at the Press. At
this time the management will
give an up-to-date financial
report, along with answering any
questions there might be concern-
ing the Institution's work. Three
Board members will be elected
during the meeting. (They will
serve three-year terms. )

PLEASE NOTE

The Rev. William Littleton has
a new address. It is as follows:
The Rev. William L. Littleton,
Route 1, Box 232, Vanceboro, NC
28586. His new telephone number
is 244-0648.

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden,
North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be ad-
dressed to the Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with
our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Con-
vention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each ar-
ticle is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states,
$8.50, $15.50 and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Famlly Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches.
Churches are billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice
DeBruhl; De Wayne Eakes; Darrell Home; Ruth Warrick; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist. Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director, Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Janie Jones Sowers, Editor of Literature.

30

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL

WHAT'S WRONG?

It is more fashionable nowadays to ask, "What
is wrong with the church?" than ever before.
(This has really been a popular query for the last few
years, in particular.) There has always been
something or other wrong with the professing church;
and much is said about its ills. But in the final
analysis, the speaker, the individual addressing the
issue, receives some feeling of satisfaction and the
situation remains pretty much the same.

With this being the case, I would like to venture to
cite several characteristics of the New Testament
church that are out of style today.

The first characteristic deals with tolerance. The
church today is a very tolerant body. So much so, that
the term intolerant is perceived as being rather scan-
dalous in nature. It seems that many major on being
open-minded and as a result have become quite broad
in their thinking. (It is rather ironic that many who
are "open-minded" have little use for those who differ
with their opinions.)

There does exist a false pharasaic intolerance in
many places; and this has no place in the true church.
But some intolerance is necessary. We need an in-
tolerance that keeps us true to the belief that any way
of salvation but Jesus is wrong; general faith in God
is not enough— we need faith in Christ. We must be in-
tolerant of anything that threatens the gospel of "no
other name" ; we must also be intolerant of sin in our
midst. Sin cannot be glossed over and excused; we
are paying a terrible price because we often merely
turn our heads the other way.

We have let the world slap us on the back in
coarse familiarity for so long that the church is seen
as being only another organization or group meeting.
There once was a holy reverence for the church; and
people took joining her quite seriously. Today,
however, there are many "careless joiners." We even
find ourselves calling sin a weakness or disease and
sheltering those involved.

The church that stands in the power of the Spirit
wins the respect of people. Perhaps we have driven
away many by trying to attract them with our various
"gimmicks." We are not "running a showboat but a
lifeboat' ' and we look pretty ridiculous trying to com-
pete with the world. May we recover the power of God
among us until a holy awe shall once more rest upon
us.

The Early Church was also a church where
something was always going on. On the Day of
Pentecost the multitude gathered "amazed, con-
founded, and perplexed." I cannot help but believe
that we are still living on the momentum of the
Early Church and on fresh waves of momentum
started since by others who were sensational. Now
days, anything out of the ordinary, anything likely to
disturb the saints at ease, is frowned upon. (The reac-
tion brought about by this has nearly been as bad as
that which it sought to correct. )

Someone has suggested that those who do not like
sensational preaching do not like it because they can
not do it. Our complacency has brought about such a
sad state of affairs that whatever we do to correct it
now will appear revolutionary, for we should arouse,
excite and stir.

The days are darker now than they have ever
been. As a result, we should appear in more contrast.
But it seems that civilization has been infected with a
mild rash of Christianity, one that has almost im-
munized us against the whole thing. As disciples of
the "Great Happy Medium," we commit ourselves to
nothing ... we are like salt which has lost its savor.

The awakening we need will be as remarkable as
Rip Van Winkle's. For many, it would be similar to a
modern-day account of Lazarus' resurrection— only
more dramatic for they have been dead longer than
three days!

As we gather for this year's Convention, may we
seek God's face— not just talk among ourselves. None
of us has all the answers ; and those who think they do
must realize this.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: We rejoice that the Grubbs family support level has been reached. Your gifts are still needed to underwrite the
costs of our other missionary families and for expansion of ministries in the Philippines, India and Mexico.

Please earmark your State Convention Missions Rally offering for the General Fund to underwrite these other ministries.

Board of Foreign Missions

September 1986

31

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

NC £7706

DURHAM

Keep your mind in shape this,
summer. Read inspirational,
entertaining books from

Free Will Baptist Press
811 North Lee Street
Ayden, NC 28513

Read 'em While It's Hot!

(Its branch bookstores are in
New Bern, Wilson, and Kinston.)

32

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The Free Will

BAPTIST

October, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 10

Convention Reflections

by the Rev. De Wayne Eakes

The Convention Reports in Brief

J[0 "I Know What Needs to Be Done But—"

by Randy L. Jenkins

DEPARTMENTS

14 Sunday School Convention

18 Foreign Missions

21 Home Missions

22 Mount Olive College

24 Children's Home

26 Cragmont

27 News Briefs

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

by De W. Eakes

The Seventy-fourth Annual Session of the
North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists meeting in College Hall at
Mount Olive College was a great Convention!
The Convention theme for 1986, "Preparing to
Serve," was developed throughout the Conven-
tion in a positive way. The entire Convention
sounded a positive and upbeat note of unity in
purpose and in spirit. I interpret this spirit as a
harbinger of greater progress and unity in the
ministries of our State Convention, our con-
ferences or associations, and in the local
churches of our Convention.

The positive mood was set by the Tuesday
evening Evangelism Rally sponsored by the
Board of Home Missions and Evangelism. The
Rev. Earl Glenn delivered a typically inspiring,
challenging and evangelistic message to the two
hundred persons filling Rodgers Chapel for the
service.

The convening of the Convention on Wednes-
day and Thursday saw over five hundred and
twenty-five ministers, delegates and visitors
registering for the Convention. This attendance
figure is very good but this is one area in which
we definitely have much room for improvement.

One hundred eighty-three ministers registered
and attended the Convention. Two hundred and
seven ministers did not register and attend. Less
than fifty percent of our ordained clergy did not
attend. I feel we need great improvement here !
Using a conservative figure of 35,000 Free Will
Baptists who are members of our State Conven-
tion churches, our churches sent two hundred
sixty out of a possible three hundred and fifty
delegates (one delegate per one hundred
members or fraction thereof). That computes to
a seventy-four and one half percent representa-
tion by the churches. The more input we have
from our ministers and delegates the more
democratic our Convention will become. Each
person's vote counts the same! We urge all or-
dained ministers and proper delegates to attend
each session of the State Convention. It is impor-
tant!

The Convention message on Wednesday was
preached by the Rev. Steve Sprinkle, an or-
dained Disciples of Christ minister who is a
teacher in the Department of Religion and
Philosophy at Atlantic Christian College, Wilson,
NC. Using Philippians 2:1-11, the preacher
(Turn the page)

October 1986

3

challenged the Convention to "let the mind of
Christ," as exemplified in this passage, be the
governing power and desire of our lives. He
stressed the need for preparation to the ministry
to which God calls each of us as ministers, both
clergy and laity.

The message on Wednesday evening by the
Rev. Roger Malinao was very challenging. Shar-
ing from his own rich spiritual experiences the
speaker, president of the Palawan Bible College
of the Philippine Original Free Will Baptist Con-
vention, challenged the eleven hundred plus con-
gregation on the basis of God's call to be His
witnesses, the conviction of the Holy Spirit for
missions and the depth of our commitment to
Christ, to fulfill the task to which we as His
Church are called! (The total missions offering
for Home/Foreign Missions was in excess of
$34,000!)

The Rev. Frank Harrison, chaplain to the
College, brought an equally challenging and in-
spiring message using Mark 10 : 35-45 as his text.
Mr. Harrison stressed the servant role that Jesus
chose to fulfill as the Messiah building on the
prophecy of Isaiah. He commended that role of
"servanthood" as modeled by Jesus to be our ex-
ample as the only authentically New Testament
model for modern Christian discipleship. Every
speaker did an excellent job in his assigned task
in the worship of the Convention.

Each committee appointed by the Conven-
tion President did a very good job of attending its
assigned tasks. Our Credentials Committee did
an excellent job of trying to iron out the unfore-
seen complications of a new registration system.
All the displays were prepared in good taste and
were informative to our people. There were
many positive comments on the quality of the
displays. State Convention time is the ideal time
to meet and talk with all the leaders of our
various denominational ministries.

Our Hymnal Committee brought a report
recommending to our churches a new hymnal
hot off the presses. The hymnal, entitled The
Hymnal for Worship and Celebration, is pub-
lished by Word Publishers, Inc. The hymnal is
available through our Free Will Baptist Press
bookstores, by special order, for a price of $7.95
each. There are also pulpit editions and loose-
leaf editions for accompanists and choir direc-
tors available. The Convention adopted the
report of the Hymnal Committee.

The Name Change Committee recom-
mended that we retain our present name as a
Convention. It also recommended that the State
Convention Executive Committee work more ag-
gressively to further develop fraternal relations
with other bodies of like faith and practice. The
Convention adopted the Committee's report.

Two constitutional changes were adopted by
the Convention. The title of the Board of Home
Missions and Church Extension was changed to
the Board of Home Missions and Evangelism.
This does not imply that only this Board is
charged with evangelism. Each church, con-
ference or association, and denominational
ministry is charged with evangelism in fulfilling
the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:18-20). A
second constitutional change involves the crea-
tion of a Board of Denominational Publications.
This Board is charged with "creating, editing,
publishing, and distribution of denominational
publications that deal with church leadership,
history, beliefs, and any other topics pertaining
to the development of denominational life." This
does not, in any way, alter or supersede any
already existing board or organization which
may print, edit or publish materials that they
have been accustomed to doing.

The Convention discussed and considered
some alternative suggestions to the schedule of
registration fees adopted by the Convention last
year but voted to retain the same fees as ap-
proved last year. The Convention also reaf-
firmed the current recommendation that each
church be requested to contribute one dollar per
member in addition to the five dollars per
delegate and the ten dollars per minister.

"Preparing to Serve!" That is a worthy
theme for our Convention! My prayer is that it
will also exemplify the commitment of our Con-
vention and all of its member con-
ferences/associations, churches and individual
members to excellence in ministry! The North
Carolina State Convention of Original Free Will
Baptists in its seventy-fourth Annual Session was
a great Convention! May our Convention, its
various ministries, its member con-
ferences/associations, each local church and in-
dividual member, "Grow in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour"
and be blessed by the "unity of the Spirit in the
bonds of peace. Thereby shall the Body of Christ
be edified and Jesus Christ our Lord be
magnified and glorified! ||§ 91

The Rev. De Eakes was elected to W S § ~~~~

serve as Convention President during 1

the 1986 annual session. Mr. Eakes ■ B gC

pastors Little Rock Church, Lucama. IJ* x ■a

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

THE CONVENTION
REPORTS IN BRIEF

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Upon due consideration the Con-
vention decided to discontinue the
practice of mailing out Conven-
tion Report Books. Mailing costs
alone were $844.64 this year.

FOREIGN MISSIONS

The World Missions Conference
for 1987 will be held on February
27 in College Hall. Dr. Robertson
McQuilkin, president of Columbia
Bible College in Columbia, South
Carolina, will be the guest
speaker.

Prayer was requested for the
following items :

1. For the guidance of the Holy
Spirit in all our plans and ac-
tivities.

2. For open doors and hearts to
receive the gospel, that
thousands of people will be won
to the Lord.

3. For good health for our mis-
sionaries and workers in Mex-
ico, India and the Philippines.

4. For the spiritual growth of
everyone associated with the
Board of Foreign Missions.

5. For the Grubbs Family as
they travel and adjust to their
ministry In the Philippines
(departure date. September 30).

6. For more laborers to go into the
harvest.

7. For the financial needs of the
Board of Foreign Missions. God
is willing and able to meet these
needs.

8. For faithful prayer partners. The
strength of our work is directly
related to the strength of our
prayers.

The Convention adopted the
following recommendations:

1. That the Convention approve a
budget of S300.977.05 for the
year 1986-87.

2. That the Convention encourage
every member to faithfully pray
for world missions.

3. That the months of December
and March continue to be
designated as "Foreign Mis-
sions Months" on our State
Convention calendar.

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Mount Olive College has
launched the 1986-87 year with a
"quest for the best" in Christian
higher education. In a time when
many colleges are retrenching,
our Board of Trustees, ad-
ministration and faculty have
honored the request of the North
Carolina State Convention of
Original Free Will Baptists to
make Mount Olive a four-year col-
lege.

A total of 6,130 gift receipts
were written by the College dur-
ing the fiscal year which ended
June 30. Voluntary gifts and be-
quests for all purposes set a new
record of 81,503.369. Included in
this amount are approximately
330 acres of land valued at
5242,000.

The following specific recom-
mendations were adopted by the
Convention :

1. That this report including its
goals and plans be approved.

2. That the Convention continue
to designate February and July
as "Christian Education
Months for Mount Olive Col-

lege" and recommend that our
churches and Sunday Schools
observe Fifth Sundays as
"Mount Olive College Scho'ar-
ship Day."
3. That this Convention pledge its
prayers and support for the
work of Mount Olive College.

CHILDREN'S HOME

The following 1985-86 highlights
were noted:

This past year we served 65 children
in residential care.

We completely replaced the old furni-
ture in Deans Cottage.

The inside of the Recreation Center
was remodeled.

Our Friends of Cnildren program
continues to receive new partici-
pants.

We developed a more comprehensive
training program for staff
members.

We had one resident to graduate from
high school.

The following were adopted by
the Convention.

1. That the Convention continue to
designate May and November as
Children's Home Months, and re-
commend that our churches ob-
serve Children's Home Days on
November 16. 1986. and May 17.
1987.

2. That the Convention support our
1986-87 budget.

RETIREMENT HOMES

This year the Board has pro-
vided care for six Free Will Bap-
tist families. We are happy that
they have chosen our program of
retirement. We are trying to pro-
vide for each of them the best kind

i Turn the page I

October 1986

5

of care. Our door is open to you if
you wish to come into our care. No
worthy Free Will Baptist or
employee of our church or institu-
tion for ten years or more will be
denied our services without a just
reason. At the time of this writing,
we have a Free Will Baptist fami-
ly who is applying for residency in
our care. Your continued prayer
and gift support will assure us
that we will be able to receive
them into our retirement pro-
gram.

The Convention adopted the
following :

1. That this Convention designate
January of 1987 as Retirement
Homes Month, and January 25 as
Retirement Homes Day in the
churches of this Convention.

2. That the Convention approve our
budget included in our report.

3. That our churches use our pro-
motional material provided at
no cost to the church during
January, 1987, especially on
January 25.

HOME MISSIONS

The Board of Home Missions
announced the establishment of
the Wilson Church for the Deaf.
This congregation, led by the Rev.
and Mrs. Dale Albertson, are now
meeting in the Lighthouse
Building given to them by First
Church, Wilson. The Wilson
Church also gave this special
ministry a bus. The Rev. Craig
Simmons pastors First Church,
Wilson.

It was also related that the Rev.
Howard Starling would be assum-

ing the pastorate of the Charlotte
Mission, soon to be reopened.

The following recommenda-
tions were adopted:

1. That our Convention go on
record as asking every minister
and layperson to participate in
The Night of Prayer for Missions
to be held in January of 1987,
the place, time, and day to be
announced.

2. That our Convention continue to
designate the months of April and
September as "Home Missions
Months" on our promotional
calendar.

3. That our Convention approve a
budget of $175,000 for the 1986-87
church year.

THE MINISTERS' PROGRAM

The Ministers' Program Board
asked that October be designated
as the Ministers' Program Month.
Also, that the second Sunday in
February be designated as
Former Pastors Sunday and the
third Sunday in June as Ministers'
Program Sunday.

CHURCH FINANCE
ASSOCIATION

The Church Finance Associa-
tion announced that the Associa-
tion's membership had increased
by 65. While deposits decreased
by $41,211, new loans were made
in the amount of $119,306.

FREE WILL BAPTIST PRESS

This past year has been a very
successful one for "the Press."

At present we are selling ap-
proximately 70,000 Sunday School

quarterlies each quarter. In addi-
tion, we serve in excess of 30,000
people through our Bible and
Bookstores. If our calculations
are near correct, over 100,000 peo- i
pie are witnessed to through the 1
efforts of the employees of the
Free Will Baptist Press each
year. Our outreach is not merely
in eastern North Carolina, but we
send literature across the entire
United States.

CRAGMONT

This year Cragmont is re^
questing $100,000 from Free Will
Baptist churches. Last year, there
were about 150 of our churches
who did not contribute to this im-
portant ministry. We are asking
these churches to contribute at ;
least $100 this year, which would
mean $15,000 in revenue that we
did not receive in 1985. We believe
that these churches who did not
contribute last year can make a
$100 contribution.

For 1986, we have set a new goal
for gaining new Cragmont Club
members. That goal is 100 new
members. The Cragmont Club
has been responsible for approx-
imately $55,000 in revenue and has
seemed to level at around $18,000
per year.

OBITUARY COMMITTEE

During the past year, our
denomination has lost through
death lay people who occupied
positions of leadership in the local
church. They were faithful

0

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

witnesses and their presence will
be missed. In addition to the
aforementioned laymen, one
minister passed away, the Rev.
William Dale.

CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

Conference

Ministers

Delegates

Albemarle

10

18

Cape Fear

22

36

Central

37

63

Eastern

53

63

Piedmont

5

5

Western

49

61

Pee Dee

7

14

Total

183

260

Total Registering as Members
of the Convention 4

Total Visitors: 81

207 ministers failed to register at this
Convention.

Total Registered Attendance 528

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Officers

President, De Wayne Eakes
('88).

Vice President, Scott Sowers
188).

Recording Secretary, G. C.
Bryan ('88).

Assistant Recording Secretary,
Justin Kornegay ('88).

Boards and Committees

Children's Home, Leon Grubbs
('90), Rebecca Davenport ('90),
Mickey Newton ('90).

Foreign Missions, Gary Bailey
C91).

Home Missions, Dan Rivers
C93).

Commission on FWB
Fellowships, Harry Grubbs ('89).

Mount Olive College, Nathan
Garner (Honorary Member), Ed-
na Scarborough ('92), Reginald
Styron ('92), Darrell Home ('92),
Marvin Edwards Jr. ('92),
Eugene Sumner ('92), Lloyd
Jones ('87) filling unexpired term
of Clayton Everette.

Retirement Homes Board,
Harry Jones ('91), J. C. Yates
('91).

Historical Commission, Leah
McGlohon ('88).

Scouting Commission, Jack
Everette ('89), R. P. Harris ('89).

Chaplains Commission, Joe In-
gram ('91).

Cragmont Assembly Stock
Representatives, Rick Watson
C89).

Board of Trustees, Lloyd Jones
('89).

Church Finance Association
Representatives, Norman Ard
('87).

Free Will Baptist Press, David
Hill ('87).

Layman's League Board, Floyd
Newsome ('89), Roney Bunn Jr.
('89), Dallas Foreman ('89).

Publications, C. H. Overman
('87), Earl Glenn ('88), Nina
Grace Register ('89), Happy
Taylor ('90), N. D. Beamon ('91).

Ministers' Program, Earl
Glenn, A. B. Bryan filling unex-
pired term of Bill Dale.

The Executive Committee: (seated) Mr. G. C. Bryan, the Rev. Ronnie Hobgood; (standing) the
Revs. J. B. Narron, Scott Sowers, De Wayne Eakes, and Mrs. Dola Dudley; (not pictured) Mr.
Justin Kornegay.

October 1986

7

(Top left) Stephen Walston, of Grifton, told the congregation
what the Deaf Camp has meant to him; (top right) the con-
gregation tried its "hands" at signing; (bottom left) the Rev.
Earl Glenn tries to follow the song leader; (bottom right) part of
the congregation.

Scenes From

the night
of evangelism
Service

8

Scenes from

THE 1986
MISSIONS RALLY

(Top left) The laying on of hands and prayer of commissioning
for Paul and Teresa Grubbs; (top right) a proud mother
watches, while her grandson sits with her; (bottom left) the
Rev. Roger Malinao; (bottom right) Paul and Teresa Grubbs.

October 1986

"1 Know What Needs To Be Done But—"

Have you ever heard
someone say, "I know
what needs to be done but I can't
do it by myself"? There may be
some truth to that but did you ever
consider that every project, deed
of compassion, or work of
ministry, started with the idea of
one person? Let us tell you of one
such project.

In the first part of July, the local
and national news began to tell us
of the desperate need of people in

by Randy L. Jenkins

the southeast part of the United
States and that the state of Illinois
was going to start a "hay lift" to
those areas if people would be
willing to donate the hay.

One day during lunch at the
local restaurant, two men of the
Mount Pleasant Church of God
began to discuss these hay lifts
and one of them said, "You know I
have the hay to donate, but I'd
sure like to see that hay reach
other church farmers who have a

need for it, rather than sending it
off, not knowing where it might
end up."

As a result of that they con-
tacted the pastor, who began
making phone calls to try and find
church people in need, as they
began making contacts for the
semi-trucks that would be needed
and the drivers to go with them.
When the people of the church
began to understand the project,

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

some of them began to donate
more hay, cash for expenses, and
a willingness to help in any way
they could. But the most impor-
tant question still went without an
answer, "Where will we take the
hay?"

That question was still
unanswered as a number of the
people from the church left for
Findlay, Ohio, for our annual
Summer Seminar, but when we
reached Ohio, the announcement
was made that we have the hay if
you can help us find the people
who need it. From that point the
Lord really began to work fast.
Within two days, Dr. Richard
Wilkin, the administrator for the
Churches of God, General Con-
ference, had located a church in
North Carolina. This church was
the Powhatan Free Will Baptist
Church, of Clayton, North
Carolina. God had directed us to
Johnston County, the hardest hit
county in North Carolina, to
church people with a need.

Before we ever left Summer
Seminar, people began to donate
money to help buy fuel or hay.
When we arrived back in Illinois it
was set: one man had donated a
truck, and another company, a
trailer. It was set: We would leave
Monday morning for North
Carolina, but then we found out
that we had pushed ahead of
God's timing. We received a
call— the donated truck had been
called to take a load for its own
company. Sunday night and Mon-
day more calls were made; we
had the hay, money for the fuel, a
trailer to haul it in, but nothing to
pull it with. There were a few sug-
gestions made: (1) Put the pastor
and a couple of elders under the
front and carry a big whip. (2)
mount a pulpit to the front of the
trailer and let the pastor talk it in-
to going to North Carolina.
Neither were considered for very
long.

So the idea came of renting a
truck to pull it and raise the
money to pay for it. We made a
few calls and found out that
renting was going to be very ex-

pensive, but the idea was of the
Lord because in talking with one
man who leased trucks he said,
"I've been watching that on T.V.
and I was wondering how I could
help. I'll just furnish you a truck
and a trailer as a donation." Now
we had two trailers ; could we take
two semi loads of hay? We've got
the hay, but can we afford to buy
the hay for another truck? And if
we could, we would need another
truck.

Tuesday morning came with all
those questions in our minds, but
then God began to give us the
answers. On Tuesday, the com-
pany who had offered the very
first trailer called and said, "We
have decided to send a truck, and
driver for that trailer." We said,
"You mean all we have to do is
pay for the fuel?" And they said,
"Oh, no, we'll pay for the fuel
too." We were beginning to say,
"What in the world is going on?",
when we remembered— it wasn't
of this world.

That was reinforced when we
received a phone call from a man
in Iowa who told us that he was go-
ing to sell some of his hay on the
market and send us a check for
$300 to help buy hay. Since that
time we had received $150 from
Pennsylvania, people from the
community who weren't even
from the church had given money,
other church farmers had given
$65 as a donation for a ton of hay,
people in the community allowed
their drivers to miss work in order
to go and drive trucks.

So, on August 15, about 8 a.m.,
men began to gather at the barn of
Don Bilyeu, the one who had the
idea from the beginning, to load
over 900 bales of good alfalfa hay.
Twelve men, some from the
church, some from other
churches, some from the com-
munity, spent the morning
loading hay, followed by being
hosed down at the water faucet, to
make us presentable enough to sit
around the table at the Bilyeu
home for a fine meal.

Then at 2 a.m., Saturday,
August 16, seven men, two semi-

trucks, and a car left Assumption,
Illinois, headed for Clayton, North
Carolina. We must admit that we
began to wonder about this trip
when it rained for the first four
hours almost non-stop and for
another four hours off and on ; but
then it happened the sun came out
and it was beautiful as we entered
the Smokey Mountains. The rain
hadn't dampened the spirits of
those who were driving, even
though they had put in a full eight-
hour day and it wasn't noon yet.

I have no doubt that those seven
men, Don Bilyeu, Ed Horton, Paul
Throneburg, Pastor Randy
Jenkins, Charlie Beck, Lynn
Markwell, and Don Miller, were
remembered by those waitresses
who wondered why we were so
happy or by a pastor who at times
wondered which way they were
going next. It was great to feel the
joy of helping someone in need,
whom we hadn't even met yet.

The day went on mile after mile
and we decided to stop for our sup-
per meal and call those at our
destination to let them know that
we were right on time. The only
problem of the day came at that
point, and that was when we tried
to put two semi-trucks in a park-
ing lot where they wouldn't fit. We
found a place to eat finally where
they would fit. We ate, and made a
call to the Rev. Don Venable, the
pastor of Powhatan Church, to let
him know when we would arrive.

We traveled some three more
hours ; and at midnight, we pulled
into the church parking lot, where
we saw pickup after pickup,
trucks, trailers and some 15 or 20
men waiting for our arrival. It
didn't take long for us to feel the
love of God from these fine peo-
ple. The trucks were backed
under a pole light and they began
to unload. Those of us who had
been on the road for some twenty-
two hours were told to go to the
parsonage, that a meal had been
prepared for us. They should have
said a feast. We had all kinds of
meats, salads, cakes, and pies,
even homemade rolls.

(Turn the Page)

October 1986

11

Later as we rolled out of the
parsonage, we got our heads
together to decide what time we
would leave for home. It was
decided that we would stay for
church. At that point Pastor Don
said to Pastor Randy, "That
means you'll preach for us in the
morning, then?" It was agreed
and we left for the beds that had
been provided for us at the homes
of Pastor Venable and Bob and
Shirley Hatcher. It was now
twenty-four hours since we left
the state of Illinois, and it didn't
take long to think of sleep, but it
was a joy to listen to those
unloading. It was 4 a.m. when the
last of the hay came off the
trucks, but one of the men said
later, "The feeling of love that
was generated through the work
made it less tiring."

We woke up to the smell of
breakfast that we really didn't
need; but was it ever good! The
people began to come for church,
some of them not knowing why
these two big trucks were in the
parking lot.

We soon found that the people of
this church were very much like
us; the only difference was that
they talked funny. No, they
weren't strange; it was just very
clear that the local language
varied from ours somewhat.
Their services were very much
like our own, which made us feel
very much at home. The Lord's
presence was very clear to all of
us. As we began to worship
together, the tears came very
easy, not only from us but from
everyone. Don Bilyeu was coaxed
into singing a special song. Even
though he wore tennis shoes, blue
jeans, and a torn shirt, it was
good.

After the service, the fellow-
ship, thankfulness, and love filled
our hearts. As one of the families
left, they invited us to share in
their fortieth wedding anniver-
sary dinner, and you know we
really needed to eat, so we did.
One of the dishes that struck the
taste buds of the Pastor and Don-
nie was French Vanilla Torte. It

surely was fattening; but boy was
it good! We couldn't talk the cook
into coming back to Illinois, but
we did get the recipe.

We had as many pictures taken
as the cameras could stand; and
with hugs and tears we were on
the road, looking at the same 900
miles that had taken us to a place
that we would not soon forget.

Our first stop would be
Mooresville, North Carolina,
where we had made ar-
rangements to pick up a baptistry
for the First General Baptist
Church of Advance, Missouri. Not
only did they get a new baptistry
for the work of the Lord, but what
they paid for freight to get it to
them, bought more hay for people
in need.

We drove into the night once
again, back across Black Moun-
tain, through the tunnels, and it
didn't take much to talk the group
into stopping for the night. It was
shortly after midnight when we
stopped in Knoxville for six hours
of much needed sleep. It didn't
seem as if we had even been
asleep when the voice was
heard," "Let's get on the road."
Willie Nelson must have been
around somewhere singing "On
the Road Again."

The miles seemed to get longer
as we went, but when we crossed
over the scales at a Kentucky
weigh station we were picked
for a maintenance check. You
guessed it— the truck didn't pass,
which was news to us because it
had worked great for over 1,200
miles. The man, with the deep
voice that sounded like a 20-year
drill sergeant in the army, said,
"Bring your papers and follow me
to the office."

We found that the two front
brakes weren't working and the
registration for the truck we were

driving was in Illinois
somewhere. The officer wrote and
wrote, and all of us began to get a
little nervous, but when he fin-
ished, he said, "You get those two
brakes to work and you can go."
Once again the Lord reached out
with His power to show us what
needed to be done to repair the
truck. With God's help, Ed Hor-
ton's knowledge of trucks, two fit-
tings at the cost of $2.50 each, we
were back on the road within an
hour. We should mention that
those two fittings just happened to
be in a truck of a gentleman who
was on the site repairing someone
else's brakes.

Some sixty-six hours later, with
the help of the Lord, we returned
to Assumption. We were tired, but
we were filled with the blessings
of God for helping someone out-
side our circle of love, people
whom we hadn't known before.
The people of North Carolina will
add to their prayer list the names
of seven men and the Mount
Pleasant Church of God congrega-
tion, just as we will them.

God has been at work again.
Even while this article was being
written, in the mail was $365 from
the Maple Grove Church of God,
Sutherland, Iowa; $300 of which
was mentioned before. But the $65
is over and above what we thought
was coming. Also in the mail was
a $100 check from a Sunday School
Class in Findley, Ohio. We didn't
even mention the offering that the
North Carolina people took after
their regular Sunday morning of-
fering, which came to $200.

God has blessed in so many
ways that I'm sure we have
probably missed some one. We
would like to thank everyone who
had any part in making it possible

for the first two loads.

—Reprinted from The Mt. Pleasant Ban-
ner, September, 1984.

Thank you, Lord, for the idea of one man, who with
your help made this a project of many across the nation.
Help us to meet the need of people.

12

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

(Top) The Revs.
Joe Griffith,
Adrian Grubbs,
and Mr. R. Clifford
Gray Jr. (Bottom)
Those in atten-
dance fellowship
after the annual
session.

PRESS MEMBERSHIP GATHERS

The annual membership meeting of the Free Will
Baptist Press Foundation, Inc. was held on
September 2. The Rev. Eddie Edwards opened the
meeting with prayer, and the welcome and reading of
the minutes of the last meeting followed.

When giving the President's Report, the Rev.
Adrian Grubbs, told of recent renovations made in the
New Bern Bookstore. He continued by relating that
thirty-one memberships had been purchased since
the last annual session and expressed concern over
the fact that insurance costs on the Press building
now exceed $12,000. He concluded his remarks by ex-
plaining that ads would be placed in The Free Will
Baptist in an attempt to provide a quality publication
at a reasonable price.

Mr. R. Clifford Gray Jr., executive director,
presented the financial statement and encouraged
everyone to browse around before leaving the facility.

The election of Directors followed. Those elected
are as follows: The Rev. Adrian Grubbs, Eastern
Conference; Mrs. Ruth Taylor, Central Conference;
and Mrs. Lynette Summerlin, Cape Fear Conference.
They will serve three-year terms.

PASTORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS
HOLD ANNUAL EVENT

Eighty-eight individuals gathered for the annual
Pastors' and Superintendents' Banquet on September
5. The Banquet is sponsored by the North Carolina
State Sunday School Convention.

The Rev. Bass Mitchell, Sunday School Conven-
tion Field Secretary, called attention to the fact that
one of the major problems Sunday Schools face is a
lack of commitment on the part of those in leadership
positions. Many are not willing to give whatever it
takes to make sure the job is done. While many Sun-
day Schools are declining, there are, however, signs
of encouragement; these signs point out a growing
awareness of the situation and a mounting concern.
Mr. Mitchell pointed out that it is time that we stop
saying we want to improve our Schools and do what it
takes. With all the sincerity one can muster, he en-
couraged those not willing to do the job to step aside
and let someone who is willing lead.

Dr. Jesse McDaniels, president of Lenoir Com-
munity College, was the keynote speaker. In his ad-
dress, he pointed out that workers may "refuse to
face up to their duties, they may refuse to take the
challenge." Doing so causes attendance to drop off
further. He concluded his address by relating that we
"can be a blessing to others and if we are, they will be
a blessing to us as well."

(Top) The Rev.
C. H. Overman
presents Mr.
Stanley Jenkins a
plaque in recogni-
tion of Service he
rendered to the
Sunday School
Convention. (Bot-
tom) Young Jen-
nifer Sutton at-
tended the ban-
quet with
grandfather,
Rev. Walter
ton.

her
the
Sut-

October 1986

13

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

Some of the members of the St. Paul's Church congregation.

Janet Warren and Tony Sutton, two active workers in the St. Paul's Church Sunday
School program.

A VISIT TO ST. PAUL'S

On Wednesday night, August 20, 1 had the privilege of attending the
monthly fellowship supper at St. Paul's Church, near Newton Grove.
After a delicious meal, I spoke on the programs offered by our Sunday
School Convention. This was followed by a question and answer period.

I was impressed by their genuine concern to see their Sunday School
improve and grow. Also, they were aware of the potential for their Sun-
day School and they want to make full use of it for the glory of the Lord.

We are in the process of planning a follow-up meeting. This will
enable us to explore specific ways they can build on their strengths and
improve the weaknesses in their Sunday School.

The Rev. Felton Godwin is
pastor of the church. George War-
ren is the Sunday School
Superintendent.

If you would like to schedule
such a meeting with me, write or
call: Bass Mitchell, Route 7, Box
471, Goldsboro, NC 27530;
734-8378.

DEADLINE DRAWS NIGH

It's December the 1st! You
must submit your nominees for
Teacher of the Year on or before
that date.

For all the information and
materials you need, call the Field
Secretary. He will be glad to send
it to you.

COURSES IN SMITHFD3LD

Two training courses for Sun-
day School teachers and all per-
sons interested in the Sunday
School will be offered in October
and November at First Church in
Smithfield. It's located at 529
South Third Street (corner of
Rose and Third Streets).

The courses are not just for the
workers in Smithfield Church.
They are for all Free Will Baptist
Sunday School workers in that
general area. You all are invited
to participate.

Most people will agree that they
want their Sunday School to be
better. Most teachers agree that
they would like to be better
teachers. But saying this and ac-
tually doing something about it is
another thing! These courses give
you the opportunity to improve
your Sunday School and your
teaching. If you are really serious
about improving your Sunday
School, then you will take advan-
tage of such opportunities.

"The Art of Christian
Teaching" will be taught by the
Field Secretary on October 13-16.
There will be four sessions from 7
to 9:15 each evening. The course
examines basic teaching methods
and activities.

"How to Understand the Bible"
will be offered on November 17-20.
It will be taught by the Rev.

14

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

Donald Coates, pastor of Pine
Level Church and president of the
Sunday School Convention. It too
will be from 7 to 9:15. This course
is a basic introduction to the Bible
and how best to study it.

For more information, call the
Rev. Alan Lamm (934-8700).

BROCHURE AVAILABLE

It's hot off the press! It will give
you all the information you need
on the programs and services of-
fered by your Sunday School Con-
vention. For copies, write or call
the Field Secretary.

PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR

What? The next meeting of your
Sunday School Convention. It will
be March 7, 1987.

Black Jack Church has
graciously agreed to host the Con-
vention. The Rev. Dan Rivers is
pastor.

The theme will be "Sunday
School Growth: Evangelism
Through the Sunday School."
Workshops elaborating on the
theme have been planned, along
with special workshops on how to
use audio visuals, and the
spiritual life of the Sunday School
teacher.

Keep your eye on The Free Will
Baptist for more details. For now,
put it on your calendar! This will
be one of the most important
meetings you can attend in 1987 !

IT'S APPRECIATED

The Sunday School Convention
offers our Sunday Schools many
programs: workshops, seminars,
training courses, books, the ser-
vices of the Field Secretary, and
other services. We want to do
even more. But these things re-
quire financial support. We look
entirely to you, our churches, for
this support.

We are thankful and ap-
preciative for the many churches
that regularly support us. Your
support enables us to serve all of
our churches. However, about
two-thirds of our churches do not
support us. If your church is one

of them, we would like for you to
seriously consider changing that!

We have asked all our churches
to set aside twenty-five dollars a
quarter for the Sunday School
Convention. This is in addition to
what they were giving. So this
means that if your church has not
been giving to the Sunday School
Convention, all we are asking is a
hundred dollars a year.

If you think your Sunday School
is important to your church and
that you need the kind of
assistance the Sunday School Con-
vention can provide, then help us
continue and even expand our pro-
grams through your generous
support. It will be appreciated
and used wisely.

A SUNDAY SCHOOL COUNCH.?

Does your Sunday School have
one? If you do, how effective is it?
Do the Council members know
their responsibilities and are they
able to carry them out?

A trained and active Sunday
School Council or Cabinet is ab-
solutely essential for a successful
Sunday School. I do not know of a
single Sunday School that's really
growing without one !

Most of our Sunday Schools do
not have a Council. Some have
become inactive. Others are not
really sure why they have one or
what they are supposed to do.

We can help. We will assist you
in establishing or improving your
Council. The Field Secretary will
be glad to meet with your pastor
and Sunday School officers for the
purpose of getting one started and
functioning effectively. This is
just one of the many ways we can
be of service to your Sunday
School.

IDEAS

Teacher and Class of the Month
We really cannot do enough to
promote and to thank our
teachers. One of the best ways is
to have a teacher and class of the
month program.

Put up a bulletin board in your
church where most of your people

will see it. Designate it as your
teacher and class of the month
bulletin board. Take pictures of
the teacher and the class being
recognized. Put the pictures on
the board. Also, put up a list of all
the members of the class.

You could let various members
of the class share what it means to
them or have someone give a
history of the class. You could do
this in your assembly. You'll find
this very meaningful.

A Message Center
How can you get information
and materials to your teachers
and officers when you really need
to? You could mail it. But that's
expensive. Why not make or pur-
chase a message center?

A message center is simply an
open cabinet with a slot for each
Sunday School worker. Each per-
son has a slot with his or her name
on it. It's placed in a place that's
easily accessible to the teachers.

These can be purchased from
an office supply company for
about a hundred dollars, or you
can make your own. You'll find it
well worth the investment.

Paul and Timothy Relationships

One-on-one training is one of the
best ways to train and prepare
prospective teachers. And it's a
method of training almost every
Sunday School can easily use.

I like to refer to it as the "Paul
and Timothy relationship." You
may recall that Paul was the
older and more experienced
pastor. He took Timothy, the
young and inexperienced pastor,
under his wing and trained him.

Do you have some prospective
teachers? Why not put these
young Timothys with the Pauls in
your Sunday School, that is, those
teachers with proven gifts and
years of experience? After work-
ing with them for a year, these
young teachers will gain a great
deal of practical knowledge and
experience. They will be well on
their way to becoming effective
teachers.

October 1986

15

o
5

11

l 25-26

18

< 12-13

25

10-11

■o

3

CO

c

«J

s
a>

CO

CO

3
_l

</>

5

to

3

thew 7-9

10

lew 23-24

17

ark 10-11

24

Luke 8-9

31

Jke 23-24

to
5

^_

00

_i

u.

00
0)

in Month.

Thursday

2

Matthew 5-6

9

Matthew 21-22

16

Mark 8-9

23

Luke 6-7

30

Luke 21-22

bo
"5

CTOBER

Wednesday

1

Matthew 1-4

8

Matthew 18-20

15

Mark 6-7

22

Luke 4-5

29

Luke 19-20

uperannua

Tuesday

7

Matthew 15-17

14

Mark 4-5

21

Luke 2-3

28

Luke 17-18

Dber is Si

0

CO

13

rk 1-3

CN

3

27

14-16

O

5

CO

a>
jt:

3
_l

c

0

CO

1/5 £

5

CO

12

i 27-28

19

14-16

26

i 12-13

| Sunday

Matth.

Matthew

to

03
J£

3
_l

ANSWERED PRAYER

by Fred Baker

One of the greatest needs in our
quest for accreditation with the
Philippine Association of Bible
and Theological Schools is our
library. To make the prayer re-
quest simple we need 5,000
books and a person to help us with
classification. This prayer re-
quest had been before the Lord for
over a year, then God began to
answer. First, was a letter from
Dr. Raper of Mount Olive College
offering some books of which they
had two copies. Praise the Lord,
part of the book need is on the way
to the Philippines. Next, God
moved upon the heart of Miss
Esther Dreo, librarian at Bethel
Bible College in Manila, to come
to Palawan and spend 17 days of
her vacation helping our
librarian, Mrs. Rosie Flor, with
classification.

We will still need more books
and many more man hours of
labor remain to be spent in the
library.

Thank you, Heavenly Father,
for helping us. Thank you, Dr.
Raper, Gary Barefoot, Mount
Olive College, and Miss Dreo.
Continue to pray for our library.
God is not finished with the
Palawan Bible College library.

TESTIMONY OF
MISS NORMA GARCIA
(Translated by
Miss Merlin Bungay)

I am Norma Garcia and I was
born at Ponia Juliana subdivision,
San Fernando Pampanga. I went
to a Catholic elementary school
and I finished my high school in
Assumption College. I studied at

FOREIGN MISSIONS

the University of Pampanga for
two years.

Before I went to Manila I had
already done many bad things
against our Lord Jesus Christ ; the
bad works were in me already. In
1974, as a high school student, I
was a drug-addict and I was
drinking strong wine. I was the
number one in my "barkada's"
group; my friends there they
liked me very much. I loved to
disobey my parents and I did not
mind the advice of my father at
all. I had my way for myself!

My father stopped supporting
me in my studies and I continued
to live like I wanted myself. My
parents sent me to my grand-
mother. I obeyed her for my own
sake, because I am her first
great grand-daughter. They loved
me very much and my reason
was: "If I do not follow them they
will not love me anymore." Later
on, they sent me back again to my
parents at San Fernando Pam-
panga.

In 1979, I said good-bye to my
father and traveled to Manila to
find work there. My father did not
agree; he said, "You are a girl
and . . . you are not a good
daughter." But I obeyed myself
and traveled to Manila. There I
was accepted in "Rubberworld"
to be a janitress. Soon I was pro-
moted to be a supervisor
janitress. At Manila, I met Mrs.
Felicia Madamay. She invited me
to go with her to visit her relatives
on Palawan.

On May 15, 1985, I met Pastor
Dario Basingil and Pastor Marcos
Taladro of the Free Will Baptist
Church. They were in the house of
my friend's brother. Pastor Mar-
cos Taladro explained the Word of
our God as it came from the
beginning and about everlasting
life.

First, I did not believe him, but
he explained it more and more.
Then I started to understand it
and my mind was opened, so I
came to know that there is eternal
life. He taught me the way to ac-
cept Jesus Christ as my personal

Saviour. I thank God for those
pastors who helped me and who
taught me that there is
everlasting life in Jesus Christ.

Sister Norma Garcia was bap-
tized in January, 1986, and she
returned after that to Manila.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
MISSIONARIES NEEDED

The Annual Convention of the
Free Will Baptist Church, Philip-
pines, voted to request the Board
of Foreign Missions to increase
the missionary staff in the Philip-
pines by two additional families,
giving us a total of five families in
the Philippines. Fred Baker
stated in a recent letter: "This
would place one family at
Palawan Bible College; one,
Palawan; one, Visias; one,
Luzon; and one on Mindanao . . .
do pray about this request. We are
fast approaching the day td open
Free Will Baptist work in these
other locations in keeping with
our development plans. It is
harvest time and ideologies of
various teachings are leading peo-
ple in the wrong direction. There
is only one way and that is Jesus
Christ."

Please join us in prayer for this
need. Perhaps the Lord is speak-
ing to you concerning missionary
service in the Philippines. Contact
Harold Jones, Board of Foreign
Missions, P.O. Box 39, Ayden, NC
28513; phone, 746-4963 for further
information.

TOUR TO THE PHDLIPPINES

We are planning to take a tour
group to the Philippines in April,
1987, to visit our work there. The
exact cost has not yet been deter-
mined, but is estimated that it will
be between $1,000-1,500 per per-
son. This tour is for lay people and
pastors. We encourage our
churches to pay their pastor's
travel for this trip. This will be an
experience of a lifetime and will
greatly increase their vision and
understanding of world missions.
We will visit the Grubbs, Baker
and van der Plas families plus all

18

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

Filipino workers. We will travel to
the outstations and get a first-
hand feeling of life in the Philip-
pines. We will also visit some of
the historical sites in the Philip-
pines. If possible, we will plan a
stop in Hawaii on the return trip.

I'm sure many of you are in-
terested. Please contact our office
for further information.

THEY ARE CONVERTED

by Dr. E. M. Lall

When things cause us excite-
ment we really like to make them
known to others. We have one
such instance. Mrs. Kusum Das
came to our office a little more
than two years ago, completely
ruined and physically exhausted,
asking for railway fare to travel
from Bareilly to another city.
Looking at her, I felt that she was
in sin and had no peace, joy and
happiness. Time was chasing her.
I tried to know her problem and
was truly sympathetic to her
since she had two children with
her. After a long discussion it
became evident to me that she
had some domestic problem with
her husband, who was also
leading a life in sin. Both of them
had become professional in beg-
ging and in sin. I gave her some
monetary help and let her go.

This lady, who is a trained
teacher, came to see me again
this year along with her husband
John Kenneth Das and the two
children (one boy and one girl)
with the same need of money. I
had a long discussion with them
with a view to find out as what
was lacking in them leading to
such agony. During the course of
conversation they were brought
back to the teaching of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And as we con-
tinued, they opened themselves
and accepted that they were in
sin, which resulted in their
misery. Then I fed them in our
home and asked them to come the
next day. They were staying in a
Hindu rest house at the railway
station.

October 1986

They saw me again the next day
and I was satisfied that they had a
changed heart. They repented
before me and had promised that
they would lead a real Christian
life. We had a word of prayer with
them. We provided the couple
with teaching work in our Sirauli
school, with accommodations and
some help for their household
goods. Sirauli is a town about 77
miles from Bareilly and we saw
them thrice since they joined at
Sirauli. They appear real changed
persons, happiness on their faces
and joy in their heart.

Our school supervisors and
other people of the church con-
gregation reported to me that a
vast improvement has taken
place in our Sirauli school since
their posting. Our minister at
Sirauli reports that this couple is
leading a real Christian life and
are doing their best for our school.

I impressed upon these people
at all times that the very purpose
of ourselves being created was
primarily to glorify God by our
entire lives, to be in God's
fellowship, and by this we are to
be filled with peace, joy and hap-
piness! We covet your prayers for
this family to grow in the
nearness of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.

SPECIAL PROJECT:
JEEP URGENTLY NEEDED
FOR INDIA

Dr. Lall uses a 1963 car, that has
been rebuilt numerous times, to
oversee the work in India. This
car is no longer dependable and
needs to be replaced with a four-
wheel drive jeep that can stand
the torture of the rough roads in

Dr. Lall's car under repair.

India.

We are asking churches and in-
dividuals to accept this as a
special project. The cost of the
jeep is $12,500. Churches and in-
dividuals could contribute any
amount from $5-5,000 toward this
project; and as soon as the needed
amount has been received, we will
inform you. We need to complete
this project as soon as possible.

Please let your giving to this
project be above your regular
missions giving. Send your
special offerings earmarked Jeep
for India to the Board of Foreign
Missions, P.O. Box 39, Ayden, NC
28513.

THREE NEW PASTORS
FOR MEXICO

Armando Duenes and family.

Armando Dueves is a convert of
one of our missions under the
sponsorship of the Emanuel El
Salvador Church, here in Piedras
Negras, in 1982. He was living in
alcohol and drugs until the Lord
saved him and his life became
new in Jesus Christ. In 1984, the
(Turn the Page)

19

FOREIGN MISSIONS

Brother began working in one of
the missions, near where he lived.
In 1985, he took the pastorate of
one of the missions where he is
now. He and his wife have done a
good work here. They have been
winning souls to the Lord. They
are also building a church
building and the pastor's home.
The April Conference was held
here.

He is a Logoi student under the
support of the Board of Foreign
Missions. He is a good student and
will be a good pastor. He was
brought before the Conference to
be numbered among the pastors
and received gladly by the rest of
the pastors.

Pastor Baldemar Montoya Hernandez and
family.

Baldemar Montoya Hernandez
was converted in 1981 here at the
Emanuel El Salvador Church
under my ministry. Before his
conversion, he was a man of much
drinking, a drunk. But he left all
of this when he found the Lord.
Glory be to God!

Brother Baldemar served as
Church Director during the past
three years; and in 1985, he began
preaching in the mission where he
is now. The Lord has blessed his
ministry with a good number of
converted souls who are working
hard in the Lord's work. The
brother is building a church with
the help of those who are
members of the church.

Juan Montoya and family.

Juan Montoya began attending
services in 1979 in one of our mis-
sions, whose work is directed by
the mother church, Emanuel El
Salvador, under my ministry here
in Piedras Negras. Before his con-
version, his life was lived in an
evil way and he was a musician
with a group that did their work in
those centers of vice, but he was
reached for the Lord by the
powerful message of the Word of
God. The Lord changed his life.
He became a new creature.

After his conversion, the
brother left his music where he
had been for a long-time and look-
ing for a new work, so that he
could care for himself and yet
dedicating his life to the work of
the Lord. He first began working
here by playing for the music ser-
vice of our church, yet asking the
Lord that one day He might use
him in His service. He then
became one of our deacons, then
co-pastor and began preaching in
the missions of our churches. He
wanted to better his life and ways
in the ministry and became a stu-
dent in the Logoi Program, under
the support of the Foreign Mis-
sions Board.

It was in October, 1985, when he
took the pastorate of the Emanuel
El Salvador Church, in Piedras
Negras, where he has been work-
ing up to now with great dedica-
tion.

Brother Juan Montoya was
presented in the Conference that
we had in December, 1985, as
pastor in Cuidad Acuna, Coah.

WILLS AND ENDOWMENTS

The Board of Foreign Missions
was recently informed that Mrs.
Nellie Alford of Smithfield, NC,
left part of her estate to the Board
of Foreign Missions for the pur-
pose of providing salaries for mis-
sionaries and building church
buildings. We believe there are
other Free Will Baptists who
would like to include the Board of
Foreign Missions in their wills.
This would greatly increase our
ability to reach around the world
with the gospel and would also
give you the satisfaction of know-
ing that your gift would continue
to reach the lost with the gospel
after you have received your pro-
motion to be with the Lord.

The Board also encourages you
to establish endowments for the
purpose of reaching the un-
reached with the gospel. The chief
business of the church is to reach
the world with the gospel. The
Board of Foreign Missions needs
a solid base of funds to insure that
we will never have to retreat from
any area where the Lord has
assigned us to work.

Please contact the Board of
Foreign Missions for assistance in
these matters.

A WORD FROM THE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
MISSIONS DIRECTOR

To: Ministers and Churches of the Eastern
Conference

The annual sitting of the Eastern Con-
ference will be held this year with Cabin
Church, Wednesday and Thursday, Octo-
ber 22-23.

The Eastern Conference Mission Rally/
Camp Vandemere Program will be held on
Wednesday evening, October 22, at 7:30.
We are requesting attendance from each
church in the Conference, with a gift for
these ministries.

On behalf of Eastern Conference Missions
and Camp Vandemere, we appreciate the
gift support these ministries have received
in the past. Your continued prayers and
faithful gift support make possible the suc-
cess of these ministries within the Eastern
Conference.

Eastern Conference Missions
Walter J. Sutton, Director

20

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOME MISSIONS
AFTER FIVE YEARS— A CHURCH

Everyone has a special invitation to our day of organization
on Sunday, October 5, 1986, at 3:00 p.m.

On October 5, 1986, the Horton
Road Original Free Will Baptist
Mission of Durham will be
organized into a self-sustaining
church by the Western Con-
ference.

In 1981, this work was begun in a
rented school auditorium. Every
Sunday it was necessary to bring
out the chairs and equipment, and
after service, make sure
everything was back in place. For
three years this continued.

Today, after two years of hard
work and growth, this mission is
proud that God has provided a
beautiful building with a 200-seat
sanctuary, pastor's study,
nursery, fellowship hall and seven
classrooms, a new baby grand
piano, a nice sound system and a
baptistry. The property is large
enough for plenty of growth along
with several ball fields.

We say, "Thank you" to every
person and church who has con-
tributed to Home Missions to help
make this a reality. Your prayers
and support shall ever be
remembered.

October 1986

21

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

FALL CONVOCATION:
A QUEST FOR THE BEST

All ready for convocation — Freshmen Kim Parish of Goldsboro, left, and Charles Denning of
Faison are among the members of the Mount Olive College family who gathered for Fall Con-
vocation. Miss Parish is a member of Spring Hill Church, near Goldsboro (photo by Patti
O'Donoghue).

by Pepper Worthington
Professor of English
Mount Olive College

Let our theme for this
new school year be our
quest for the best," President W.
Burkette Raper said, as he fo-
cused his eyes upon the gathered
students and faculty in College
Hall on the evening of Fall Con-
vocation.

The internal rhyme struck—
just as the hour for a new begin-
ning, a new quest, another move-
ment forward.

"You are here at Mount Olive
College to search for the skills to
help you find employment. You
are here to search for maturity to
put work together. You are here to
look in the mirror and say to
yourself, 'I have done my best.'
You are here to share in your
quest for the best, because your
experience at Mount Olive College
should be a shared experience.
And when you have done your
best, you have won the greatest
battle of all." Dr. Raper looked
across the new faces.

Pausing, his face became
somber, as if the thought ahead
struck a new time, another

awareness, a wider con-
sciousness. "We are living at a
grave time in the history of our
civilization. The problems of our
world will not be resolved by
marching, by carrying placards,
or by loud music. Our economy is
in trouble. Now it costs more and
more to produce less and less.
America is importing more than
exporting. We are not attuned to
future generations. Our concept of
family life is being eroded by too
many people who want sexual
freedom without responsibility.
Our country is plagued by alcohol,
by drugs, by AIDS. A college
degree is no longer an assured
ticket to employment." Again he
paused, then added emphatically,
"An education that is not con-
tinuous is obsolete."

Gathered in College Hall were
friends of the College mingling
with both new and returning
students, the enrollment at Mount
Olive College being the largest in
the history of the College.
Recognizing the urgency of the
times, Dr. Raper asked, "What

does Mount Olive College have to
offer?"

With conviction and a commit-
ment of 32 years as President, Dr.
Raper answered. "Our philosophy
of education gives meaning and
purpose to life. We maintain an
emphasis upon scholarship and
Christian living. Our faith is our
authorization to be in business. A
Christian college is committed to
the Christian faith, to academic
excellence, and to moral values.
If it were not for this conviction, I
would not have invested 32 years
of my life here. Our Christian
commitment is our foundation to
our quest for the best."

Praising the faculty, the
resources of 41,000 volumes in
Moye Library, the College policy
of required chapel attendance, the
educational curriculum, and the
religious life on the campus, Dr.
Raper concluded, "We are not
here to squeeze you into a mold.
We are here to help you be and
become the person God created
you to be. If you build upon a solid
foundation, if you make a commit-
ment to be the best you can be,
you will become more and more
the person God created you to
be."

1986 SCHEDULE FOR
COLLEGE DINNERS

Nash County, Thursday, October 2, 7:00
p.m., Middlesex Elementary School, Mid-
dlesex; Lester Duncan, Chairman. Goal:
$4,500.

Lenoir County, Saturday, October 4, 7:00
p.m., Lenoir County Shrine Club, Highway
70 E, Kinston; Stanley Jenkins, Chairman.
Goal: $8,500.

Jones County, Monday, October 6, 7:00
p.m., King's Barbecue Restaurant, Kin-
ston; Mrs. Mildred Jenkins, Chairman.
Goal: $2,350.

Onslow, New Hanover, and Brunswick
Counties, Thursday, October 9, 7:00 p.m.,
Folkstone Church, Folkstone; Ronnie
Parker, Chairman. Goal: $3,100.

Beaufort County, Saturday, October 11,
7:00 p.m., Beaufort Community College
(Learning Resource Center), Washington,
William D. Gurkin, Chairman. Goal:
$8,270.

Greene County, Monday, October 13, 7:00
p.m., West Greene School, Snow Hill;
Mrs. Lena Walston, Chairman. Goal:
$13,150.

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Duplin County, Saturday, October 18, 6:00
p.m., East Duplin High School, near
Beulaville; William D. Thigpen, Chairman.
Goal: $10,450.

Edgecombe-Halifax Counties, Monday,
October 20, 7:30 p.m., Peace Church,
near Pinetops; David Ricks, Chairman.
Goal: $6,250.

Pamlico County, Saturday, October 25,
6:00 p.m., Camp Vandemere, Vandemere;
Douglas Skinner, Chairman. Goal: $5,500.

Wayne County, Tuesday, October 28, 7:00
p.m., College Hall, Mount Olive College,
Mount Olive; Mrs. Bettie B. Lynch, Chair-
man. Goal: $21,050.

Johnston-Wake Counties, Monday, Novem-
ber 3, 7:00 p.m., Everett Chapel Church
(Spiritual Life Building), Clayton; Donald
Coates and K. Alan Lamm, Co-Chairmen.
Goal: $30,650.

Carteret County, Saturday, November 8,
6:00 p.m., East Carteret School, Beaufort;
Reginald Styron, Chairman. Goal: $9,730.

Washington, Tyrrell, Martin, Pasquotank
Counties, Tuesday, November 11, 7:30
p.m., Washington County Union School,
Roper; David Cahoon, Chairman. Goal:
$6,580.

Craven County, Thursday, November 13,
7:00 p.m., West Craven Middle School,
near New Bern; Miss Marice DeBruhl,
Chairman. Goal: $13,550.

Wilson County, Monday, November 17, 7:00
p.m., Beddingfield High School near
Wilson, James B. Hunt, chairman. Goal:
$23, 550.

Pitt County, Tuesday, November 18, 7:00
p.m., D. H. Conley High School near
Winterville, Mrs. Dorothy D. Dail and Tim
Tyndall, co-chairman. Goal: $22,100.

Sampson, Harnett, and Cumberland Coun-
ties, Thursday, November 20, 7:00 p.m.,
Clinton-Sampson Agri-Civic Center, Clin-
ton; C. Felton Godwin, Chairman. Goal:
$10,320.

LAMM NAMED
LADY TROJAN COACH

James W. Lamm, a 1965
graduate of Mount Olive College,
has been named as coach of the
Lady Trojan basketball team at
Mount Olive College. He comes to
Mount Olive after serving 16
years as the girls' basketball
coach at Eastern North Carolina
School for the Deaf in Wilson.

The Black Creek native re-
ceived a bachelor's degree from
East Carolina University.

He is married to Janice Graves
Lamm, formerly of Snow Hill.
They have two daughters: Beth,
who is eight years old; and Cindy,
a sophomore at Mount Olive Col-
lege.

October 1986

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

DR. JIM PONDER RETURNS TO MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Dr. Jim Ponder of Jacksonville, Florida, will conduct a campus
revival at Mount Olive College, October 5-8. Ponder, who was the guest
speaker at last year's State Convention Evangelism Rally, is a full-time,
world-wide evangelist.

In 1981, he founded Jim Ponder ministries, an evangelism ministry
designed to share the gospel through crusade and mission evangelism.
More than 40,000 people from 26 states and seven countries have made
decisions for Christ through this ministry.

A graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Ponder has pastored churches in Texas and Il-
linois. He has served as director of evangelism for Baptists in Illinois
and Florida for over 15 years and has preached over 600 crusades,
church revivals, conferences and rallies.

An evangelist for 21 years, Ponder has also served on the teaching
staff of the Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism.

All pastors and their wives are especially invited to attend
"Evangelism Strategies for Pastors" set for Tuesday. This session is co-
sponsored by the Board of Home Missions and Evangelism of Original
Free Will Baptists in North Carolina.

A schedule of events is listed below. For further information contact
the Rev. Frank R. Harrison, director of church relations, Mount Olive
College, Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365; telephone (919) 658-2502.

7:30 p.m.-

11:00 a.m.-

9:30-10:30 a.m.-
11:00 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.-
1:30- 2:30 p.m.-
1:30- 3:30 p.m.-
2:45- 3:45 p.m.-

11:00 a.m.-

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE
CAMPUS REVIVAL

Schedule of Events

Sunday, October 5,- Wednesday, October 8, 1986

Sunday— College Hall

Community Crusade

Monday— Rodgers Chapel

Chapel Service. Will meet with some classes during the day
and have a session in the dorm at night.

Tuesday — Rodgers Chapel

"Evangelism Strategies for Pastors"
A Theology of Evangelism and Motivation for Evangelism
Chapel Service
Lunch

"Follow-up and Discipling" Once a Person Makes a Decision
Session With Ministers' Wives With Joyce Ponder
How to Handle Publicity and Plan a Revival Service

Wednesday— Rodgers Chapel

Chapel Service

The public is invited to all services.

RECORD ENROLLMENT FOR 1986-87 FALL SEMESTER

Mount Olive College reached a record enrollment
this fall with a total of 782 students. The total includes
519 on campus and 263 in the Seymour Johnson Air
Force Base extension program.

23

CHILDREN'S HOME

MEET OUR NEW DIRECTOR
OF CHILD CARE

On June 1, Mrs. Helen Keevert
assumed the duties of Director of
Child Care of the Free Will Bap-
tist Children's Home. Mrs.
Keevert is no stranger to the
Home— she had served in the posi-
tion of Social Worker for a year
previous to becoming Director of
Child Care.

Mrs. Keevert has a BA degree
in Psychology, with a concentra-
tion in Business Administration.
She is certified in Preventive In-
tervention Training, Certificate
Training Program, Nutrition
Planning, CPR and First Aid.
Before coming to work at the
Children's Home, Mrs. Keevert
did volunteer work for Wilson-
Greene Mental Health and Child
Development Center, working
with mentally and physically
handicapped children. At present
Mrs. Keevert is working on her
Master's degree in Education at
North Carolina State University.

She is married to Ellis Keevert
and they have two children Eric,
16, and Amy, 14.

We are happy to have Mrs.
Keevert in this position and feel
that she is very qualified to handle
the challenges in providing the
children with Christian Child
Care.

A VISIT HOME

A very shy, sweet young man of
eight years old was admitted to
the care of the Free Will Baptist
Children's Home at the beginning
of the year 1975. Kenneth quickly
adjusted to the Home and began

elementary school in Middlesex.
He did so well in fact that he
received a certificate for perfor-
mance on the school's track and
field team that next school year.

By the time Kenny entered
secondary school his teacher,
Mrs. Gabriel, reported that "Ken-
ny works extremely well in class
and is quite cooperative." His
teachers, however, were not
always free with good reports.
Often throughout his school years
teachers complained that he
failed to complete his homework
assignments. Though homework
seemed to plague him, he com-
pleted his high school education
and in June, 1985, Kenneth re-
ceived his hard-earned diploma.
This was a big moment in his life
and rewarding for all those who
grew to love him through the
years.

After spending the summer
working in Rocky Mount and
Wilson, Kenneth enlisted in the
Job Corps and received assign-
ment to the Earle C. Clements Job
Corps Center in Morganfield,
Kentucky. This was another big
step for Kenneth. He felt good
about making decisions for
himself. The Job Corps would
prepare him for a future career as
a welder.

At twenty years old, Kenneth is
all grown up now. He paid us a
visit this summer while on leave
from the Job Corps. He spent
most of his t\vo-day visit working

on the grounds for Mr. Batchelor.
He told us he just wanted to help
out where he could on campus.
His vacation ended quickly and
Kenneth returned to Morganfield,
where he plans to complete his
one-year assignment before re-
turning to the Rocky Mount area.

Kenneth may be years away
from the timid little eight-year-
old boy of 1975 but he will always
be our little boy at the Free Will
Baptist Children's Home. We love
him and wish him much success
and happiness in all the years
ahead.

A NIGHT OUT

The Free Will Baptist
Children's Home campus was
alive with smiling faces the night
of August 13. The street lights lit
up and, contrary to normal pro-
cedure, the children popped out of
their cottages and on to the cam-
pus grounds.

The fun and games began with
our Recreational Director, Sarah
Moore, supervising several all-
time favorite games. Who
wouldn't enjoy "Red Rover, Red
Rover" and "Hide and Seek"?
Then crazy songs were sung while
ice cream cones were eaten. The
children presented Sarah with a
scrapbook of summer memories
as a going-away present. Sarah
and the children will miss each
other very much. (She will be
returning to college for her senior
year.)

Slides from last Christmas were
shown on the lawn. Everyone
loved this part of the evening and
requested that the slides be shown
over and over.

Sarah completed the evening
with a quiet devotion. The
children were thankful for the
night and returned without fuss to
their cottages at 9:30 p.m.

24

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHILDREN'S HOME

FIELD DAY

Participation was at an all-time
high! Trying to get a group of thir-
ty children, varied ages, to take
part in anything is a job in itself.
Sarah, our Summer Recreational
Director, managed to accomplish
this on Thursday, August 7, at our
annual Field Day.

Children and staff alike par-
ticipated in the games and fun.
Who would think an adult could sit
on a small child's lap? We did it
and it worked! What! Roll a woof-
le ball in the grass using only your
nose? These games and other all-
time favorites, such as over-
under, potato on a spoon and sack
races, were played during the
morning hours.

The Retirees joined us for our
noon meal consisting of barbecue
and chicken. Fun and fellowship
made the walls of the dining hall
ring with sounds of joy and
laughter.

The afternoon brought games
and relays at the pool. Near the

end of the day some of the staff
presented a skit. The children en-
joyed watching their cottage
supervisors and office personnel
acting silly and crazy.

Yes, Field Day was a huge suc-
cess. Children and staff enjoyed
the day very much and look for-
ward to another one soon!

A NIGHT AT THE CffiCUS

What! A circus being held in the
American Legion Hall. No Big
Tent? No animals? Imagine our
surprise as we sat in our seats and
the circus began.

First, there was Bingo, the
Clown. He was the icebreaker. I
noticed the children laughing a lit-
tle. The Rolling Diamonds were
next. This was a family that had a
roller skating act. The young boy
was about thirteen. He was really
good. The children were amazed
when they saw that he could jug-
gle also. He really surprised them
by being such a good acrobat.
They were talking about him long

after we returned home. The fun-
niest act, however, was a ventrilo-
quist by the name of Bill Lamous.
I saw the children respond most to
him. He was excellent. He had all
of us laughing. It was a special
night for everyone; we ap-
preciated the opportunity to go.

SCHOOL REWARD

On Tuesday, July 29, twelve
children were rewarded a pizza
lunch for their achievements dur-
ing the final nine weeks of school.
All of the children were proud to
go and enjoyed the salad buffet as
well as picking out their favorite
kinds of pizza! Many of these
children worked hard to earn
their grades and were pleased to
be recognized. After an hour of
eating all-WE-could-eat, we were
treated to Care Bear puppets and
balloons, compliments of the
restaurant staff. Many of us look
forward to the next school reward
time year and plan to work hard
each nine weeks.

October 1986

25

CRAGMONT

The Theme for the two Cragmont Woman's Conferences was CHRIST, THE TRUE TABERNACLE.

Mrs. Dola Dudley and Miss Becky Jo Sumner were directors of the Conferences. Mrs. Alice Barrow was
registrar. Musicians for the first week were: Mrs. Alma Dale, director; Mrs. Alma Buck, organist; Mrs.
Geraldine Summerlin, pianist; for the second week, Mrs. Donna Holland, director; Mrs. Nina Grace Register,
organist; Mrs. Geraldine Summerlin, pianist.

Mrs. Betty Jo Rivers presented the Bible Study the first week and Miss Becky Jo Sumner taught the sec-
ond week.

There were 170 women who attended.

26 THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

OAK GROVE CHURCH, BLA-
DEN COUNTY, DEDICATES ITS
FELLOWSHIP HALL: In May,
1982, the Rev. James B. Hardee
called a special meeting with the
men of Oak Grove Church. It
focused on the construction of a
36' x 85' Fellowship Hall. With en-
thusiasm and commitment from
the members of the church, they
were eager to meet the challenge.
The men voted to build the
Fellowship Hall themselves at a
cost of $62,000. (The estimated
cost of construction was over
$100,000.) Groundbreaking
ceremonies were held the first
Sunday in August, 1982, with con-
struction beginning the following
Saturday. Working side by side,
the men labored every Saturday
in this extensive building pro-
October 1986

gram to make a dream become a
reality. Deep appreciation was
extended to all the ladies of Oak
Grove for preparation of meals,
while the men labored on the hall
until completion of the building in
May, 1983. The first Fellowship
Dinner was held February, 1983.

A special thanks goes to the
Church Finance Association for
its support, to those within the
church who gave interest-free
loans, and to church members
who generously contributed on
designated Sundays for the
Building Fund. The Lord heard
and answered prayers; the con-
gregation was able to repay the
Church Finance Association and
private member loans in full
twenty-two months later.

OAK GROVE CHURCH, of
Bladenboro, held Vacation Bible
School in June. The average at-
tendance each night was 55. There
were 20 professions of faith and 18
baptized.

i

WINTER VILLE CHURCH will
have its Annual Harvest Day Sale
on Saturday, October 4, beginning
at 10 a.m. Crafts and baked goods
will be on sale throughout the day.
A new addition this year will be
"The Church Family Christmas
Tree." This will have various
kinds of ornaments made by our
church family. Bar-B-Que
chicken plates will be sold at
lunch and hot dogs at supper.
There will be special singing at 6
p.m., followed by an auction sale.
Come for a full day of fun, food
and fellowship. These activities
will take place at the Winterville
Fire Department. This event is
sponsored by the Christian
Fellowship Class.

WINTERVILLE CHURCH,
Winterville, will observe its
Homecoming on October 12. This
will be a celebration of the first
year of worship in the completed
sanctuary. Morning worship will
be followed by dinner on the
grounds and a singspiration in the
afternoon.

Beginning on Monday, at 7:30
p.m., and continuing through Fri-
day night revival services will be
held with the Rev. Gary Bailey,
pastor of Stoney Creek Church, as
evangelist. Everyone is invited to
attend all the services.

SPRING BRANCH CHURCH,
near Walstonburg, will observe its
annual homecoming day services
on October 5, with Charles Tyn-
dall, of Walstonburg, as the guest
speaker. Dinner will follow im-
mediately after the service.

Revival services will be held
October 6-10, at 7 : 30 each evening,
with the Rev. Calvin Heath,
pastor of Robert's Grove Church,
near Dunn, as the evangelist. The
public is invited to attend.

(Turn the Page)

27

WEST CLINTON CHURCH, Clin-
ton, will observe homecoming on
October 12, with the Rev. Roy Clif-
ton, a former pastor now living in
Durham, delivering the morning
message. Lunch will be served at
noon, followed by special singing.
The pastor, the Rev. Earl
Johnson, and the congregation in-
vite all to attend.

REVIVAL SERVICES HAVE
BEEN SCHEDULED AT KING'S
CROSS ROADS CHURCH for Oc-
tober 19-24. The Rev. Ray
Williamson will serve as the guest
evangelist; the Rev. Bruce Jones
is pastor of the church. Special
singing will be featured each
evening. The church is located
near Farmville.

THE CAPE FEAR WOMAN'S
AUXILIARY CONVENTION will
be held on October 8 at Pleasant
Grove Church. The theme of the
Convention is "Come to the Foun-
tain" and the theme Scripture is
Revelation 21:6. The scheduled
program is as follows:

9 : 30— Registration
10:00— Hymn, "There Is a Foun-
tain"

—Devotions, Sandra Hayes,

Haymount Church
— Welcome, Lillie Jones,

Host Church
—Response, Joyce Brown,

Smithfield Church
—Greetings, Grace Barbour,

Hopewell Church
—Business Session

Come to the Fountain

Through Missions

Come to the Fountain

Through the Children's

Home

Come to the Fountain
Through the Retirement
Homes

Come to the Fountain
Through Mount Olive Col-
lege

Come to the Fountain
Through Cragmont
Come to the Fountain
Through the Free Will
Baptist Press

28

NEWS BRIEFS

11 : 15— Morning Worship

— Hymn, "Come, Thou
Fount"

—Offering

— Special Music

— Convention Message,
Becky Jo Sumner, Hickory
Chapel Church

12:00— Lunch
1:00— Hymn, "When I See the
Blood"
—Life Membership Award
1:20— Miscellaneous Business

— Hymn, "Glory to His
Name"

2 : 00— Adjournment

MOUNT ZION CHURCH, Roper,
has scheduled revival services
October 13-17. The Rev. Fred
Rivenbark will be the guest
evangelist. Special singing will be
featured each evening. The Rev.
Charlie Overton pastors the
church.

CRAB POINT CHURCH,
Morehead City, will celebrate its
thirtieth anniversary and
homecoming on Sunday, October
26. All former members and
friends are cordially invited to at-
tend the day's activities.

A former pastor, the Rev. Lloyd
Gore, is a member of the singing
group, "The Servants," which
will be providing special music.

Revival services have been
scheduled for October 27-31. The
Rev. Noah Brown will be the guest
evangelist.

MOUNT ZION CHURCH will hold
its Baked Ham and Turkey Din-
ner and Annual Bazaar on Oc-
tober 18, at the Back Swamp Com-
munity Building. Dinners will be
served beginning at 11 a.m.

THE CAPE FEAR DISTRICT
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY CON-
VENTION will sponsor a study
course on Tuesday, October 14, at
7:30 p.m., at Hopewell Church,
near Smithfield. Mrs. Lynette
Summerlin will speak on the
topic, "Stewardship."

§11! !<#

ROBERTS GROVE CHURCH,
Route 1, Dunn, observed Grand-
parents' Day on Sunday,
September 7. As each grand-
parent arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Bob-
by Johnson, the Sunday School
Superintendent and his wife,
handed him a long-stemmed red
carnation. During Sunday School,
he read a poem honoring them,
and thanked them for their con-
tributions to the growth and suc-
cess of the church. He then invited
each grandparent to join him and
his wife out on the front steps for
the annual picture session.

THE CAPE FEAR SUNDAY
SCHOOL CONVENTION will con-
vene October 11 with the Hay-
mount Church in Fayetteville,
with registration beginning at 9
a.m. The theme for the Conven-
tion is, "Making Sunday School
More Attractive." Becky Jo
Sumner will be the Convention
speaker. It is hoped that all Cape
Fear teachers and superin-
tendents will be present.

Lunch will be served after the
Convention.

THE CAPE FEAR YOUTH
FELLOWSHIP met on August 2 at
the Cumberland County Park. Ap-
proximately 250 individuals were
in attendance. The Youth Banner
went to Haymount Church, which
had 27 young people present. The
Overall Banner went to Robert's
Grove Church, with an attendance
of 37. Eleven churches
represented at the Convention.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

SAINTS DELIGHT CHURCH has
scheduled revival services for Oc-
tober 8-10, with the Rev. John
Owens serving as the guest
speaker. Special singing will be
featured each evening.

THE CENTRAL CONFERENCE
ORDAINING COUNCIL will meet
on Monday, October 6, at the First
Church, Greenville. The meeting
is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Anyone having business with the
Council is asked to contact the
Rev. Ray Williamson by phoning
him at 758-4356.

PEOPLES CHAPEL CHURCH,
Route 2, Elm City, is presently in-
volved in a series of revival ser-
vices which will continue through
October 3. Services begin each
evening with the prayer room at
7:30, and worship follows at 7:45.
The guest evangelist is the Rev.
James Joyner, pastor of Kenly
Church.

The church will observe its an-
nual homecoming services on
Sunday, October 5. The day's ac-
tivities will begin with Sunday
School at 10 a.m., followed by wor-
ship at 11. Lunch will be served in
the Ferrell Building following the
morning's services.

CORE POINT CHAPEL
CHURCH, Core Point, installed
the new officers of its Woman's
Auxiliary on Wednesday evening,
September 3. The Rev. Timothy
Webber explained the symbol and
the tri-fold purpose of the Aux-
iliary during the candle-light ser-
vice. The installation was closed
by Mr. Webber's rendition of
"Seal Us, O Holy Spirit."

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
ORDAINING COUNCIL will meet
on October 9 at the First Church in
Wilson. The meeting will begin at
10 a.m.

THE ONE HUNDREDTH AN-
NUAL SESSION OF THE
WESTERN CONFERENCE will
meet with Saint Mary's Church,
Wilson County, on October 16.

The scheduled program is as
follows :

9:30— Hymn

9:35— Devotions, the Rev. Fred

Rivenbark
9:50— Welcome, the Rev. Keith

Cobb

—Response, Mr. Rufus Haire
—Roll Call of Ministers, Mr.

Johnnie Howell, Clerk
—Roll Call of Churches, Mr.

Johnnie Howell, Clerk
—Recognition of Visitors, the

Rev. Floyd Cherry,

Moderator

— Partial Report of the
Credentials Committee

—Moderator's Message
11:00— The Centennial Celebra-
tion: This will consist of
special music and a short
testimonial from all living
former moderators. The
regular morning offering
will also be received during
this celebration.
12:00— Lunch

1:00— Scripture and Prayer, the
Rev. James Rogerson

1:10— Report of the Executive
Committee
—Report of the Children's
Home

—Report of Mount Olive Col-
lege

—Report of Foreign Missions
Board

—Report of Home Missions
Board

—Report of Board of Ordina-
tion

—Report of Obituary Com-
mittee

—Report of State Conven-
tion

—Report of the Treasurer
—Final Report of the Creden-
tials Committee

— Report of Retirement
Homes

—Report of Church Finance

Association
—Report of Carolina Bible

Institute
—Report of the Nominating

Committee
—Final Business Session

MARLBORO CHURCH, Route 1,
Farmville, has scheduled revival
services October 19-22, with the
Rev. Bruce Barrow as guest
evangelist. The Sunday evening
service will begin at 7; the re-
mainder of the services will begin
at 7:30.

Homecoming will be celebrated
on Sunday, October 26. The day's
activities will begin with Sunday
School at 9:45 a.m. Worship will
follow at 11 and lunch will be
served afterwards. A memorial
service and singspiration will
highlight the afternoon's ac-
tivities.

The Rev. Scott Sowers, pastor,
and the congregation cordially in-
vite everyone to join them for
these services.

THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-
SECOND SESSION OF THE
CAPE FEAR CONFERENCE
will convene with Lee's Chapel
Church, Dunn, on October 30. The
scheduled program is as follows :

8 : 30— Registration
9:00— Congregational Singing
—Scripture and Prayer, the

Rev. Billy Nowell
—Welcome, the Rev. Bobby
Tew

—Response, Mrs. Ruth War-
rick

9:15— Call To Order

—Registration Rules Ex-
plained by Credentials
Committee
—Roll Call of Officers and

Standing Boards
—Roll Call of Churches
—Roll Call of Ministers
—Recognition of Visitors
—Moderator's Remarks, the

Rev. C. Felton Godwin
—Appointment of Commit-
tees

9:45— Mount Olive College Re-
port

10:00— Children's Home Report
10:15— Other Denominational En-
terprises
11:00— Congregational Singing

(Turn the Page)

October 1986

29

— Offering and Offertory
—Prayer

— Special Music, Host
Church

— Sermon, the Rev. Dean
Kennedy

12:00— Recess for Lunch
1:15— Congregational Singing

— Scripture and Prayer, the
Rev. Tony Reep

1:25— Report of Standing Com-
— mittees

—Executive Committee
—Ordaining Council

— Sunday School Convention
—Woman's Auxiliary Con-
vention

—Cape Fear Ministers' Con-
ference

—Board of Education
2:15 — Report of Temporary
Committees

—Temperance

—Resolutions

—Obituary

—Credentials

—Nominating
3:00— Business Session

—Treasurer's Report, H. T.
Hinson

—Adjournment

THE NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL
SESSION OF THE EASTERN
CONFERENCE will meet with
Cabin Church on October 22-23.
The scheduled program is as
follows :

WEDNESDAY MORNING
9 : 00— Registration
10:00— Scripture and Prayer,

Adrian Massey
10: 10 — Conference Called to
Order, Conference Clerk
—Welcome to Cabin Church,
the Rev. Orvin Everett
Jr. , Pastor, Cabin Church
—Response, the Rev. Marvin
R. Waters
10:20— Moderator's Address, the

Rev. David C. Hansley
10:30-Roll Call of Ministers
Receive Church Letters
—Partial Report of Creden-
tials Committee

30

NEWS BRIEFS

—Recognize and Welcome
Visitors

— Appointment of Com-
mittees

10:55— Camp Vandemere Report,
the Rev. Ralph Sumner,
Director

11:05— Mount Olive College Re-
port, the Rev. Frank R.
Harrison

11:15— Worship Service

—Hymn and Worship Offer-
ing

— Sermon, the Rev. W. H.
Willis

12:00— Lunch and Fellowship

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

1:30— Hymn and Prayer

1:40— Executive Committee Re-
port, the Rev. K. David
Hines, Conference Clerk

1:45— Examining Board Report,
the Rev. Francis Garner,
Board Secretary

1:50— Eastern Conference Mis-
sions Board Report, the
Rev. Walter J. Sutton,
Chairman

2:00— General Conference Re-
port, the Rev. Harry Jones,
President

2:05— North Carolina Ministerial
Association Report, the
Rev. Doug Skinner, Presi-
dent

2:10-Free Will Baptist Press
Foundation Report, the
Rev. Grady Tucker,
Representative of Confer-
ence Memberships

2:15— Eastern Auxiliary Conven-
tion Report, Mildred
Jenkins

2:20— Church Finance Associa-
tion Report, Reginald
Styron, Representative of
Conference Memberships

2:25— Miscellaneous Business

2:45— Recess

WEDNESDAY EVENING
7 : 30— Eastern Conference/Camp
Vandemere Program
—Prelude

-Hymn, "Send the Light"
—Devotional and Prayer, the

Rev. Orvin Everett Jr.,
Pastor, Cabin Church

—Welcome and Announce-
ments

—Hymn, "At the Cross"

—Eastern Conference Mis-
sions/Camp Vandemere
Worship Offering

—Offertory, Layman

—Eastern Conference Mis-
sions Report, the Rev.
Walter J. Sutton, Director

—Report from Camp Vande-
mere, the Rev. Ralph
Sumner, Director

—Message, the Rev. Jerry
Rowe, Pastor, Cape
Carteret Mission

—Gospel Invitation

—Benediction

— Postlude and Fellowship

THURSDAY MORNING
9:30— Registration (For Those
Not Already Registered)

10:00— Scripture and Prayer,
Franklin Baggett

10:10— Read and Approve Min-
utes of Previous Day
—Roll Call of Ministers
Absent Wednesday

10:25— Free Will Baptist Retire-
ment Homes Report, the
Rev. Walter J. Sutton,
Director

10:30— Cragmont Assembly Re-
port, the Rev. John
Williams, Director

10:35-Original Free Will Baptist
Ministers' Program Re-
port, the Rev. Don Fader,
Director

10 : 40 — Foreign Missions Board
Report, the Rev. Harold
Jones, Director

10:45— Home Missions and Evan-
gelism Board Report, the
Rev. Ray Wells, Chairman:

10:50-Free Will Baptist Chil-
dren's Home Report, the
Rev. Bobby Taylor, Direc-
tor

10:55— State Sunday School Con-
vention Report, the Rev.
Bass Mitchell, Field
Secretary

11:00— State .Convention Report,

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

the Rev. De Wayne Eakes,
President

11 : 05 — Ordination Service,
Eastern Conference Ex-
amining Board

12:00— Lunch and Fellowship

THURSDAY AFTERNOON
1:30— Memorial Service, Mem-
orial Committee
1:40— Eastern Conference Lay-
man's League Report, J. T.
Wilson

1:45 — Final Report of the
Credentials Committee
—Final Report of the Ex-
amining Board, the Rev.
Francis Garner, Secretary
2:00— Committee Reports
—Temperance
—Digest
—Finance

— Treasurer, Woodrow
McCoy, Conference
Treasurer

—Resolutions

—Nominating
3:00— Miscellaneous Business

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Moderator, the Rev. David C. Hansley
Assistant Moderator, the Rev. Ronnie
Parker

Clerk, the Rev. K. David Hines
Treasurer, S. Woodrow McCoy
Assistant Clerk, the Rev. Harry Jones

MINISTERS AVAILABLE

The Rev. Robert Rollins an-
nounces that he is available for
full-time or part-time services. He
can be contacted by writing to
him at Route 1, Box 22, Walston-
burg, NC 27888; or by phoning
753-4919.

The Rev. Jeffrey Cockrell is
available for pulpit supply. He
can be contacted by writing to
him at Box 684, Selma, NC 27576;
or by phoning him at 965-3856.

CHURCH AVAILABLE

Otway Church is in need of a
pastor. Anyone interested should
contact Mr. Heber Golden by
phoning him at 728-4332.

Statewide Study Course

for

ALL Woman's Auxiliary Members

to

INTRODUCE and PREPARE

for Devotion 1986:

"FAITH IS THE KEY"

November 8, 1986—10 a.m.— 12:00 noon
Rodgers Chapel
Mount Olive College

Leader for the Day— Frank R. Harrison, Chaplain
His Topic: "The Dynamics of Faith"

(One-half of Your Membership Required to Count on A-1 Chart)
Lunch Will Be Available— Cost, $3.00
Sponsored by the North Carolina State Woman's Auxiliary Convention

1987
YOUTH
PUBLIC
SPEAKING

TOPIC:
LOVE

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden, North
Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration In any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be addressed to the
Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper Is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that Is Inconsistent with our pur-
pose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each article Is given the person whose
name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable In advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (Including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states, $8.50, $15.50
and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where It applies).

Every-Famlly Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches. Churches are
billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount Is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Klnston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marlce DeBruhl; De Wayne
Eakes; Darrell Home; Lynette Summerlin; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director, Janle Jones Sowers, Editor of Literature.

October 1986

31

DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PERIODICALS

DURHftM NC £7706

November, 1986/$ 1 The Free Will

BAPTIST

Tlu' i i iv Will

BAPTIST

November, 1986
Vol. 101, No, 11

3

Count Your Blessings

h\ Nanc\ Rrandenberger

q A Growing Church

b\ Rogei Hawthorne

8

Divine Interruptions

b\ Rill Khewer

g Co-Laborers Depart for the Philippines

b\ the Rev. Harold Jones

j2 The Sum of Evangelization

bj the Rev. Roger Malinao

Personal Testimony

^\ the Rev Roger Malinao

Western Conference Has Centennial Celebration

o\ the Rev. Flovd B. Cherrx

"I Wish I Had Known . . ."

^ vs\.; ..; c-aven

DEPARTMENTS

18 Children's Home

20 Foreign Missions 26 Home Missions

22 Mount Olive College 28 News Briefs

24 Sunda\ School Comention 31 Editorial

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

kf Mm

i

s

Count
Your
Blessings

» >

f'.i/ Nancy Brandcnberger

Count your blessings."
My mother-in-law laid
this advice on me one day about 11
years ago. It was my anniversary.
My husband was traveling on
business leaving me to "cele-
brate" with his parents. We had
two children then. Our 6 year old
had recently been diagnosed as
borderline retarded and assigned
to special education classes. Our 5
year old had leukemia and we
were given little if any hope for

her recovery. Count your bless-
ings, indeed! I dui not do it.

The years have gone by, and I
have had the opportunity to
observe numerous mishaps and
tragedies among friends and
family and experienced a few of
my own. No one is exempt. But
my problems usually seem
monstrous in comparison with
those of others.

During the relative calm when
there are no big issues to deal
with, even the accumulation of
small irritations can depress me.
Something as simple as 50 socks
in a heap on the laundry
floor— each one inside out— can
put me over the edge.

I Turn the Page)

November 1986

One day I listened to myself
dispensing a pearl of wisdom to
my bickering 9 and 11 year olds.
"You do not know how lucky you
are," I said, annoyed. "If you had
to sit down and put all your bless-
ings on paper, you could not find a
sheet long enough! " But for once I
was not so preoccupied that I
could not hear myself. I decided
then and there to make time to list
my own blessings.

What evolved was an awareness
of all the good around me that was
going unnoticed. Unfortunately,
in the past the accent was too
often on the negative with the
many positives taken for granted.

I prepared a systematic plan
with a few rules. Each day I would
sit down in a quiet place and
spend five minutes detailing the
positive aspects of my life and
closest relationships. Absolutely
no negative points would be al-
lowed unless they had a definite
redeeming value. At the close of
each session, I would thank God
for providing me with this par-
ticular blessing.

Since it was the children who
forced the issue in the first place,
I began with our youngest of three
daughters. I examined her ap-
pearance, health, mental
abilities, personality and
character, and found that I have a
comparatively super kid.
Whenever critical thoughts tried
to intrude (and they did), I either
dismissed them outright or turned
them around to show their sunny
side. For example, she is messy.
But she is also creative and
creative minds are rarely tidy.
While I thought it would be dif-
ficult to fill the five minutes, I
used up eight.

On the second day I proceeded
to our middle child. That was go-
ing to be tough, I thought, since
she is so much like her mother
and therefore a prime candidate
for criticism. Digging through her
record of performance I not only
found some real gems, but also

decided that if I could do so well
with her I might tack on an extra
day to the end of the program to
list reasons why I am thankful
that I am me! Somewhere in the
allotted time for this child I real-
ized that she was the only one in
the family who does turn her

socks right side out before throw-
ing them into the hamper. I later
brought this to her attention and
you would have thought I had
handed her a gift.

The third day brought me to our
oldest daughter. I found during
the course of her session that I too

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

often focus on her disabilities
rather than on her achievements :
retarded, yes, but also affec-
tionate and trusting beyond most
people's capabilities. She has
already exceeded the profes-
sionals' predictions for her prog-
ress. She is an uninhibited
person whose emotions shine
clearly on her uncomplicated
face. No schemes, no dishonesty,
no hypocrisy. She has taught her
mother tough lessons in humility,
acceptance and fight. I might
have learned these somewhere
else along the line, but more like-
ly, I would not have. I went over-
time on my assigned period once
again.

Although we lost our 5 year old
more than 10 years ago, I could
not become involved in a program
about my children without giving
time to her. Through her I had
learned bitter lessons. Never
would I have been so sympathetic
to others' grief had I not ex-
perienced it myself. Never would
the quality of my mothering have
expanded so far without her.

On to my spouse. Any married
person knows how easy it is to
"forget" all the qualities that
made a mate so attractive in the
first place — especially after
several years.

This session became nostalgic. I
recalled the excitement, the op-
timism, the plans and prepara-
tions for our life together. I hung
on to review the humorous
misconceptions we had of the
future. The bad times and the
hard times that we survived
together were considered
also— not for their negative
aspects, but for the growth they
inspired. This session went over-
time too.

And when he came home from
work that night I found myself
looking at him in a warmer, more
appreciative way. He works so
hard. He cares so much, and he is
fun.

I took parents one at a time
rather than as a couple. This
would, I knew, add days to the

program.

With the parents I trained my
thoughts on our present relation-
ship rather than on the years
when I was growing up. During
the sessions on both sets of
parents I considered the state of
their health, their record of
noninterference in my marriage
and child rearing, the genuine
pleasure they take in their grand-
children, the examples they con-
tinue to give through their
longtime commitment to their
marriages, and their active faith
in God.

Friends were next on my list.
While I used only one session
devoted to several friends, I con-
sidered that I might give a few of
them their own day the next time I
use this prayer form. Their sup-
port in time of need, their
availability for companionship
and pleasure and their role as
sounding board were a few of the
major positives I explored. They
also help to make me a better per-
son by allowing me to return
favors.

I labeled the next day's session
"thanks-for-the-stuff " : the daily
bread, the warm house, the shoes
and socks (even if they are inside
out), the education for my kids,
the money to pay for softball, the
two crazy dogs who bark when
anyone comes in the drive (no
robberies at our house), the
regular income, the bikes in the
garage, the appliances that make
my job easier and the time to play
golf.

The house has never burned
down. I have never been in any
serious accident, earthquake or
tornado. No war, famine or
plague terrorizes our country. I
have never been jailed or beaten.
These last may sound drastic but
these things do happen to people.
But for the grace of God ....

I saved the last day for myself
because I find it more difficult to
zero in on my good points than I do
on others'. I began slowly. I have
a mind that works. I am growing,
becoming more aware of the

goodness around me. Because I
believe in God my optimism
usually overrides my cynicism. I
am a faithful wife and I try to be
an attentive mother. I am a loyal
friend.

I shifted uncomfortably. This
whole thing did not seem humble.
But truth is humility. And I was
examining my good points for one
reason— to thank God for these
blessings and for the grace He
has given me to progress and
evolve into a better person.

I continued on. When something
like "opinionated" cropped up, I
forced myself to find its positive
side just as I did on all the other
days for all of the others. (Better
to be opinionated than to have no
opinion and take no stand at all.)
At the end of this particular ses-
sion I found that I liked myself a
little better.

My personal prayer of thanks
lasted almost two weeks. I cannot
pinpoint the day when my step
became lighter and my smile
more frequent. The awareness
that the magnitude of my bless-
ings was overwhelming put me in
a positively glowing mood. It was
then that I knew that I must share
this prayer form with others.

I would be totally unrealistic
and unbelievable to claim that I
am now living happily ever after
without a single disappointment,
angry moment or care in the
world. No mature person expects
this or even thinks it is deserved.
Appropriate reaction to life's in-
conveniences, hardships and
tragedies is inevitable. Even
Jesus became angry. Even Jesus
grieved. But He did not get all
bogged down in negatives, nor
should we.

This prayer form can be
tailored to any person's lifestyle
and relationships. Everyone has
blessings to count. And in thank-
ing God for those we have— one by
one— we will realize the bonus of
an uplifted spirit which makes it
easier to deal with our problems.

Used by permission, Pulpit Helps,
November 1985.

November 1986

5

A Growing Church I

by Roger Hawthorne

s

ome truths are so self-
evident that they are
never questioned.

One such truth is that a small
church located in a population-
declining area must inevitably get
smaller, and eventually close
when membership has declined
sufficiently.

Add to that the fact the small
church is in the midst of an
agriculturally dependent area
which is suffering the distress of
the agricultural economy, we can
start writing that church's
obituary.

The First Presbyterian Church
of Otis, Colorado, is such a
church. The nearly one-hundred-
year-old church had 143 members
in 1952, but by mid-January, 1985,
membership had dipped to 71. The
year before, receipts had fallen
over $7,000 short of the church
budget despite financial
assistance from the presbytery.

By August, 1985, the church had
posted a 28 percent membership
increase, a 36 percent increase in
giving, and sometimes saw wor-
ship attendance double the
previous year.

How did it happen?

The laity made it happen.

At the lowest point, the church's
session, the local governing
board, invited two evangelism
consultants to meet with
members of the congregation,
then hounded and badgered
members until they turned out for
the meeting. Nearly a third of the
church's membership came to the
initial meeting with the
evangelism consultants who
pointedly did not present a slick
evangelism program but guided
the members into identifying
their own faith, goals and
understanding of evangelism.

Several factors were identified
which inhibited any potential to

increase membership. One was
appearance: the church sanc-
tuary had not been painted in over
thirty years and a rear yard, visi-
ble from three-fourths of the park-
ing lot, was a weed patch; patches
of lawn were bare or dying.

Another factor was lack of
fellowship, incorporating new
members into the care of the con-
gregation.

Perhaps the largest factor in-
hibiting growth was the expecta-
tion that evangelism was the job
of the minister, but the par-
ticipating members came to
realize the ministers might well
have been the reason the church
membership had so declined. The
church had three sour pastorates
in a row. In between, a very
popular interim pastor packed the
sanctuary, although giving con-
tinued to decline; the day the in-
terim pastor left, so did all the
new people she had introduced to
the church. They had joined the
minister, not the church.

The session launched an all-out
assault on all the problems
simultaneously .

1) A special fund over and
beyond the church's budget was
created to repaint the sanctuary.
Within a very few months, the
sanctuary was repainted and the
painting was fully funded.

2) A special flower and plant
day was held in which members
were encouraged to bring plants
from their gardens to place in the
church yard. Three separate
flower beds now emblazon the
church grounds with color.

3) New sod was planted in the
lawn, and dying elm trees were
either trimmed or removed.

4) Special worship services
marked these events. The sanc-
tuary was rededicated, and a
special blessing ceremony accom-
panied the planting.

5) The session tapped a retired
elder and deacon to head an
evangelism committee, and the
committee and the church's cur-
rent interim pastor identified both
prospective new members and old

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

members who had lapsed into in-
activity.

6) The evangelism committee
fielded a two-person calling team
to visit with the people identified,
and composition of the calling
team changed from time to time,
bringing together an experienced
caller with a new person, creating
a pool of experienced callers. This
fall the evangelism committee in-
tends to put three two-person call-
ing teams to work, each making
three to four home visits a week.
They will not only call upon pro-
spective members but also they
will call upon established
members in the name of
fellowship and pastoral care.

7) By deliberate design, new
members were only received
when a number wished to unite
with the church, rather than fami-
ly by family. Whenever possible,
reception of new members was
followed by a potluck congrega-
tional meal to provide opportunity
for old members to visit with new
members. During the meal, the
evangelism committee presented
new members either with Chris-
tian lapel pins or necklaces.

Where did they find prospective
members in a population-
declining area?

The numbers of people who
belong to a church are always
higher in small, rural com-
| munities than in suburbs or
i metropolitan communities, but
even so, 35 percent of the popula-
: tion of that community is un-
churched, and that translates into
150 people, mostly adults.

The role of the minister in the
evangelism effort was deliberate-
ly held to a minimum. The
evangelism calling committee
would notify the minister of any
identified pastoral care needs, but
it was clearly understood it was
not the minister's task to invite
people to join the church. The
minister was called in for
j evangelism purposes only when
J prospective members had ques-
j tions about the official beliefs or
i government of the church which

November 1986

the calling committee could not
answer.

The minister's main role was to
schedule special worship services
both in the church and in the com-
munity which would attract un-
churched people. During the wor-
ship, members of the congrega-
tion took it upon themselves to
become acquainted with visitors
and in a special part of the service
to introduce visitors to the rest of
the congregation. Opportunity
was made available for other
members to greet visitors during
the passing of the peace following
the assurance of pardon.

Monthly a special service was
held to attract visitors.

On Mother's Day, the members
of the youth group each spoke of
his or her mother, and worship at-
tendance more than doubled the
previous Mother's Day service.

The Vacation Bible School pro-
gram was held during worship,
and attendance exceeded even the
bloated Easter attendance.

A special recognition service
for school personnel was sched-
uled, bringing in administrators,
teachers, janitors and cooks, plus
parents interested in this oppor-
tunity to become acquainted with
new teachers. An outdoor picnic
followed the worship service.

One teacher visiting the church
after watching the exchanges
among members during the pass-
ing of the peace asked a friend
afterward, "Are they always so
loving?" The fact is, many
members initially opposed and
resisted the passing of the peace
when it was first introduced. To-
day it is a favorite part of the ser-
vice.

The church expects growth and
announces that expectation in
every worship bulletin in the wor-
ship section of the bulletin. Im-
mediately below a section of the
bulletin entitled "introduction of
guests and visitors," always an
entry is made inviting people to
join the church and providing
brief information on how to do so.
That achieves two purposes. The

obvious purpose is to invite people
to join the church. The less ob-
vious reason is to keep those who
are members reminded of their
own expectation that the church
will grow. Many congregations
say they want to increase
membership, but then exhibit at-
titudes and cliques which prevent
any possibility for growth. Con-
gregations only grow when the
current membership both wants
growth, then works to make
growth happen.

Today the First Presbyterian
Church of Otis, Colorado, is the
fastest growing church in its
presbytery although three of the
presbytery's churches are located
in the seventh fastest growing
community in the nation. It may
be the fastest growing church in
its denomination, one more noted
of recent years for its loss, not its
increase, of membership.

The church's session in develop-
ing the evangelism program
established a six-year plan to
achieve self-support, weaning
itself from continued dependence
for financial assistance from its
presbytery.

The operating premise of the
stewardship education program
has been that members will finan-
cially support their church when
1) they are made aware of the
financial needs, 2) they perceive
themselves as valued members of
the congregation, 3) they realize
they will receive pastoral care
from the congregation, and 4)
they are challenged to be obedient
to Christ.

Six months into the evangelism
program, with the major
evangelism thrust scheduled for
the fall, the church is already
eighteen months ahead of its own
schedule for self-support.

It is doing it in an area where
churches are supposed to die, not
grow.

It is doing it because lay
members want growth and are
working to make growth happen.

Reprinted from Your Church,
September-October, 1986.

7

Then I realized God could speak to me through

Divine Interruptions

I

by Bill Kliewer

t doesn't happen suddenly,
like a tire blowing out. It's
more like a slow leak. But one day
you wake up and discover that
something is gone. You're flat.
You don't have the fervor and the
energy and the desire you once
had for the work of the Kingdom.

It happened to me not long ago.
I had let my daily time of
fellowship with the Lord dwindle,
and I began to miss a day here
and there. So I went off alone one
day to read the Word of God and to
listen to the voice of God and to
renew my relationship with Him.
And that day, through a story I'd
read many times before, God
spoke something special to me.

In Luke 8, I read the story of
Jairus, a leader in the synagogue
who came to Jesus, asking the
Lord to heal his daughter who was
dying. Jesus had been working
hard— preaching, teaching, heal-
ing. He wanted a break. He just
wanted to get away for a few
hours and pray. But He knew that
if He were to walk down the road,
crowds would gather, pushing and
shoving to get close to Him.

So when Jairus came and threw
himself at Jesus' feet, I suppose
Jesus had to make a tough deci-
sion about His management of
time and resources.

Fortunately for Jairus, Jesus,
though weary, had not lost sight of
His mission. He knew why He had
come. He could have told Jairus to
see one of His assistants. Or set up
a time to talk about it later. Or
found a way to handle it without
going out of His way. No! Jesus
knew that He had to walk and talk
with Jairus that day.

My mission, as I believe God
has pointed it out to me, is to help
those around me become
everything God wants them to

8

become. I believe God wants me
to pour myself into others to see
them grow in the same way Jesus
grew, to be all God wants them to
be.

But I had drifted. I'd slipped in-
to thinking more and more about
my own needs and ambitions.

The Jairus story also reminded
me that Jesus had another prob-
lem similar to mine. He had to
deal with interruptions.

How can we keep our eye on our
mission with so many interrup-
tions? Jesus had an answer for
that. As He pushed His way
through the throng that day, a
woman reached out and touched
Him— and He felt the power flow
out of Him. One more interruption
as He tried to do His job? No! He
saw the interruption as being
from the Father. He saw it as a
part of His mission.

Christian leaders everywhere
face this tension between being

driven by circumstance and being
moved by God. Gordon Mac-
Donald talks about this in his
book, Ordering Your Private
World. He points out that if we get
upset when people cross our path
and slow us down, we are prob-
ably driven by our own ambitions,
not by what God calls us to ac-
complish for Him. We must learn
to see interruptions, as Jesus did,
as being divinely-created oppor-
tunities to fulfill our calling.

As I read that story again, I
noticed that when a woman in the
crowd reached out and touched
Jesus, tired as He was, He had
power to spare. Richard Foster,
in his book Celebration of
Discipline, calls it "the discipline
of doing what we don't feel like do-
ing." It is also the secret of a
powerful Christian life in which
we can truly fulfill the mission He
has given us.

Used by permission,
World Vision,
August-September, 1986.

Co-Laborers Depart For Philippines On September 30

In the early part of this year by
faith we set September 30 as the
date for the Grubbs family to
leave for the Philippines. Keeping
this date depended on two things
happening— faithful prayer part-
ners and monthly financial sup-
port.

Paul, Teresa, Matthew and
Nathaniel began deputation in
April and from the very beginning

Jones

we saw the faithfulness of the
Lord. Both of these needs were
met about one month before the
date set for their departure. There
were other requirements and
paper work that had to be done,
but prayer partners and financial
support were the most important.

With the faithfulness of God
in mind and with the mixed
emotions of joy and sadness,
(Turn the Page)

November 1986

(Top left) Paul talks with the Rev. Harold
Jones, Foreign Missions Board director;
(top right) part of the Grubbs family; (bottom
left) well wishers talk with Pio and Roger;
(bottom right) Paul and Teresa.

approximately fifty people,
friends and family members of
the Grubbs family, gathered at
the Raleigh-Durham Airport to
see them off. Now that they are
gone, we must remember that our
faithfulness in prayer and finan-
cial support will be a constant
source of strength and encourage-
ment to them.

10

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

I

The Grubbs family left on their
journey to the Philippines about
1:30 p.m., but there was still
another departure for the same
day. The Rev. Pio dela Rosa,
president of the Free Will Baptist
Church in the Philippines, and the
Rev. Roger Malinao, president of
Palawan Bible College, who had
been visiting in our churches and

(Top left) Paul and Teresa finalize their
checkin; (top right) Pio; (bottom left) Roger;
(bottom right) the Philippines bound Grubbs
family.

attended the State Convention,
were waiting for their departure
for the Philippines later in the
afternoon at 5:05.

God bless all of you with the joy
of sending forth laborers.

November 1986

11

The Sum Of Evangelization

2 PETER 3:6-10

The following sermon was delivered by the Rev. Roger Malinao at the
1986 Missions Rally, held in conjunction with the annual State Conven-
tion.

May I lay out the missionary
concept centered to Christ as the
biblical framework of mission?
Christianity is Christcentric.
Christ, together with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, form its ob-
ject of faith and worship. Since
Christ provides the supreme ex-
ample and pattern of conduct, ser-
vice, attitude and direction for our
life, a study of His life is il-
luminating and inspiring.

We concern ourselves with rela-
tion to the world and to worldwide

by the Rev. Roger Malinao

mission. What was Christ's at-
titude toward non- Jewish people?
Was Christ nationalist, par-
ticularism or provincialist, or was
He a universalist? Was He an in-
ternationalist with a world mis-
sion? Were the benefits of His life
and death designed for one peo-
ple? or was His ministry directed
toward the nations of the world?
Was Jesus in the days of His flesh
conscious of His social
significance and of a universal
mission?

12

Since the coming of Protestant
missionaries to the Philippines in
early 1900, the gospel has been
consistently preached through
every conceivable means. Local
as well as foreign evangelists con-
tinue to share the good news of
salvation with sincerity and
urgency.

The laity have joined the clergy
in this great endeavor. In-
dividuals and families have put
their trust in Christ as their
Saviour and Lord. Churches have
been established and keep
multiplying. For all of these we
praise God. However, we seem to
fall short on one very important
aspect of gospel proclamation.
Although we preach everywhere
in villages, cities, towns and even
homes aside from our church
pulpits, we lack commitment for
the total evangelization for the en-
tire nation. A casual look at the
location of our churches and
outreach missions in the Philip-
pines will show many places hav-
ing no tangible Christian witness.
Therefore, we praise God,
because the Grubbs family
answered the calling of God which
is in Heaven. We the Free Will
Baptist Church Philippines
members give praise and
thanksgiving to our Lord and
Saviour. The Grubbs family was
called by God, not by man, to
fulfill their part in this evangeliza-
tion.

Looking at the greater Metro
Manila region and its nearby
towns where more than 10 million
people from a wide diversity of
socio-economic, and religious
backgrounds live, we are re-
minded of the vast number of
unreached peoples in the rest of
our nation.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

THE TASK BEFORE US
REQUIRES TOTAL
EVANGELIZATION

Why? Some entertain the idea
that the Philippines have already
been reached or evangelized as
evidenced by the presence of in-
digenous national churches.
Perhaps it would be more correct
to state that although national
churches have been established
and many of them are maintain-
ing steady growth, yet vast
numbers of the Filipinos remain
Christian only in name. Most of
our people are religious, but
lost — lost from the fellowship of
God and lost in their sins.

In general, churches, including
the F.W.B., are experiencing un-
precedented growth; during the
last decade evangelical churches
in the Philippines grew in
membership as well as in the
number of churches by over 100%.
We have the capacity to maintain
this rate every five years. About
35 denominations have a com-
bined number of churches of over
10,000 today; the estimated
number of local churches is from
14,000 to 16,000 with about 2 to 2.5
million evangelical Christians.
But that is just a drop in the
bucket.

To visualize further the task
before us, let me show you the
population ratio per church in
each region: Bicol 16,324, Eastern
Visayas 10,073, central Luzon
10,745. Central Visayas 11,616,
western Mindanao 8,104, western
Visayas 4,666, southern Tagalog
(including Palawan) 7,345, Na-
tional Capital region 5,402,
Cagayan Valley 4,674, central
Mindanao 4,393, northern Min-
danao 4,168, and southern Min-
danao 4,096.

The church population ratio per
province will also help clarify
vastness of our task. Eighteen
provinces, including the National
Capital region, have one church
per every 5,000 to 10,000 people.
Sixteen provinces have one
church for every 10,000 to 20,000

people. Nine provinces have one
church for every 20-50,000 people.
STRATEGY TO THE
TASK -WHY THE
TASK OF EVANGELISM
NEEDS STRATEGY

2 Peter 3:8-9: "The harvest tru-
ly is plenteous." The task remains
vast and great. But we must not
lose heart for the Lord of the
harvest is at work and we will
prevail with Him. I believe that
the strategy has been im-
plemented for many many years,
but we need to have a brand new
strategy or new vision to see our
world totally evangelized for
"without vision the people
perish."

We must clearly see what God
wants to do. What is God's desire
for the more than 52 million
Filipinos and for the more than 6.5
billion people of the whole world?
I believe that He wants every
Filipino, every human being to
trust Christ as Kis Saviour for
"He is not willing that anyone
should perish" (2 Peter 3:9).
Moreover, He wants His church
(the Original Free Will Baptist
church) deeply-rooted in the soils
and cultures of the Philippines,
India, Mexico, and Nigeria.

It has been said that the
Spaniards came to the Philippines
and Hispanicized us, while the
Americans came and denomina-
tionalized us. Christ Jesus came
on earth to Christianize and to
save us.

It's time to change our method,
strategy, our old vision, to a new
vision in evangelizing the people.
Let us accept this responsibility.
When I say old vision I mean the
Bible history of God's people, the
Chosen People. Israel excluded
the other nations from salvation
and the promises of God. In
Europe, Christians built their own
church and empire and forgot the
lost of the world. A fruitless
church will never be acknow-
ledged by the saving Lord.
STRATEGIES

What are the strategies : How do
we do it?

1) Training in evangelism and
discipleship for every Chris-
tian. Sources of training: the
Palawan Bible College,
Theological Education by
Extension, Christian work-
er's seminars, Evangelism
Explosion.

2) Cooperative evangelism.
The field is so wide; the
task so great, the enemy
so potent, we can't do it
singly. We need to work
together.

3) Prayer concerts. Through
prayer we not only move
the hands of God, we also
express our total dependence
upon the Holy Spirit. I quote
the Rev. Harold Jones:
"Prayer is the keystone for
victory."

Man is going to be lost when he
dies. The Scripture plainly
teaches, "He that believes not is
separated from God. He is without
hope apart from Christ and unless
we do something to bring the
gospel, many people will remain
lost because of indifference. Some
of our predecessors have said, "I
feel that I cannot go on living
unless I do something for China"
(Hudson Taylor). "Give me
Scotland or I die" (John Knox).
"Woe is me if I preach not the
gospel" (the Apostle Paul).

What is our statement?

CONCLUSION

The challenge comes to us dur-
ing this critical history of our na-
tion. The Philippines are beset by
enormous problems. What are we
doing? The Lord has given us a
mandate to make disciples of all
people. May we be faithful to the
trust!

2 Peter 3: 10: "But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise
and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth also and
the works that are therein shall be
burned up. "

November 1986

13

My Personal Testimony

by the Rev. Lodgerio (Roger) E. Malinao

I was raised by my parents a
devout Catholic and so I grew up
under Catholic instruction. There
were many times or occasions in
which I helped in the activities of
the church. In fact, I even served
as a sacristan (acolyte). From
there I was able to teach in the
Catholic school (high school
department) for several years un-
til such time as I became involved
in a Catholic Reformation of
Farmers' Poverty. I found myself
becoming worse and had no vic-
torious life, which I could not com-
prehend. However, to some extent
I then realized that I had commit-
ted wrong under the laws which
lessened my self-respect.

I guess I was getting tired of my
life, so I agreed to a transfer to a
place at Palawan, a two-week
journey away from my perma-
nent residence. In Puerto
Princesa City, Palawan, Radio
Station DYPR needed a radio an-
nouncer for their programs. I ap-
plied and became an announcer or
"disc jockey" for several years.

One day, while we were busy
working in the radio station, a
Free Will Baptist pastor and mis-
sionary told us that if we wished,
starting the next day we could

14

have Bible study at home from 7
to 8 p.m. With Bible study, for the
first time in my life I had my own
copy of the Bible. We studied the
plan of salvation. I had always
thought that by kneeling in the
Catholic Church and praying for
Mary I could be saved from sin
and death.

After the plan of salvation
presentation I came to realize I
was a sinner and received Jesus

Christ as my personal Saviour.
My life was transformed from
then on. I remember it was
September 24, 1979; when I got
home I told my wife, "I am now a
new creation. '{ She told me,
"You're drunk again." I
answered, "No, your old husband
Roger is dead. I now have a new
life." Then she answered me,
"You are not only drunk, but you
have lost your mind."

My wife couldn't understand
what had happened to me. But my
life had changed and the truth of
the matter is, my wife received
Jesus Christ; and by December 2,
1979, at 2:00 p.m., we were both
baptized by the Free Will Baptist
pastor.

Then I had decided to serve the
Lord, to be bond slave for the
Master's use. I enrolled in
Palawan Bible Institute full time
and graduated in the first class.
My wife and I are "Lietourgos,"
that means servant full-time of
the Lord Jesus Christ under the
Original Free Will Baptist Church
Philippines.

I praise the Lord for the vessels
that move from His place to the
other side of world.

The Rev. Roger Malinao, president of Palawan Bible Institute; the Rev. De Eakes, president of
the State Convention of Original Free Will Baptists; and the Rev. Pio dela Rosa, president of
the Philippine Free Will Baptist Convention await Roger and Pio's flight home (photo by Cliff
Gray).

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Western conference has centennial celebration

by F. B. Cherry, Moderator

The Western Conference of the
Original Free Will Baptists of
North Carolina celebrated one
hundred years of service to its
member churches in its annual
meeting at Saint Mary's Church,
Wilson County, on October 16.

From the time the General Con-
ference was revived in 1842 until
1855, there was only one con-
ference of Original Free Will Bap-
tists in North Carolina. On
November 1, 1855, the Cape Fear
was organized at Stony Run
Church, Cumberland County.
Then in 1895 when the General
Conference met at Gum Swamp
Church in Pitt County, a motion
was made to organize the con-
ference into two bodies: the first
to be known as the Central Con-
ference and the second as the
Eastern Conference. This in effect
made the Central Conference the
original conference of North
Carolina, and this conference
numbers its annual minutes in
this manner today.

The next conference to come in-
to existence in North Carolina was
the Pee Dee. The only information
that we have been able to find
regarding this conference is given
in Harrison and Barfield's
History, which states that it was
organized in 1869, and that it lies
along the South Carolina line with
some of the churches being in that
state.

In regular session of the Central
Conference held at Black Jack
Church, Pitt County, in 1886, a mo-
tion was made to divide the con-
ference to make two bodies.
Although it was not explicitly
stated, it seems that there was
general agreement that the
western division would be called

the Western Conference and the
eastern portion would continue to
be the Central Conference.

The Piedmont Conference came
from the Beaver Creek Associa-
tion of South Carolina. When this
conference met at Ryne Street
Church in 1943, 13 churches which
were located in North Carolina
asked for letters of dismission,
and the following year ( 1944 ) they
met at Goshen Grove Church,
North Belmont, North Carolina,
and organized the Piedmont Con-
ference.

In accordance with an agree-
ment that had been made with the
Central Conference in 1944, a
group of 17 churches met at Sound
Side Church, Tyrrell County to
organize the Albemarle Con-
ference. Thus the picture of the
Conferences of the Original Free
Will Baptists of North Carolina
emerged.

The report of the credentials
committee shows that in 1985,
thirty-five churches represented
at the annual session of the
Western Conference. These
churches were composed of a
total of 5,873 members. Thus it
may be seen that the Western
Conference is still alive and serv-
ing its member churches at the
end of one hundred years.

The program for the annual ses-
sion at Saint Mary's Church in-
cluded words of greeting from all
the former moderators who are
still living: the Revs. James A.
Evans, James Joyner, Dewey
Boling, Fred Rivenbark, and
Clyde Cox. The morning part of
the program was taken up with
the centennial celebration and the
afternoon with the business of the
Conference and denominational
reports.

November 1986

15

CHILDREN'S HOME

NOVEMBER -CHILDREN'S HOME MONTH

November is one of the months set aside by the State Con-
vention that we give special recognition to the child care
ministry of the Free Will Baptists. November 16 is Children's
Home Day in our denomination. We ask our churches and
friends to remember our child care ministry each and every day,
but November is a special time that we can set aside and lift up
to our Lord in a special way the needs of our ministry. Since our
beginning in 1920 our goal has not changed— it is still to provide
"a Christian home for boys and girls." It is our privilege as we
render service to children to see them grow, develop and mature
in all aspects of their lives.

We want to take this time to offer a special thank you for
your active part in sharing and touching the lives of children out-
side of your immediate family. So, on behalf of the children and
staff, we offer to you a special invitation, at your convenience,
for you to visit your child care ministry.

OUT WITH THE OLD
AND IN WITH THE NEW

Mr. Roney Bunn

September began with a phone
call from The Woodmen of the
World Lodge #1087 in Elm City,
NC. They were discussing their
matching gift project for this year
and wanted to know of the
Children's Home's special needs.

God moves in mysterious ways.
We had been discussing a project
to place before our churches. This
project was our need to replace
three washers and dryers. The
washer and dryer in Rodgers Cot-
tage needed to be replaced now as
it was damaging the children's
clothes.

We shared this immediate need
with the Woodmen. In less than
two weeks, Mr. Roney Bunn, one
of the Woodmen's lodge officers,
arrived on campus with a new
washer and dryer for Rodgers
Cottage. To all our friends of the
Woodmen of the World Lodge
#1087 we say, "Thank you," and
our children in Rodgers Cottage
offer to you a very special
Thanks.

JR. HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

On Friday, September 26,
seventeen jr. high school students
from Pleasant Grove Church,
near Pikeville, came to the
Children's Home for a weekend
retreat. They spent Friday and
Saturday nights in the Recreation
Center.

18

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

The weekend began with
watching a video movie, playing
games and a short devotion on
Friday evening. Saturday morn-
ing brought a softball game, after
which the young people watched a
film on drugs entitled "Drug
Knot." The group then broke up
into small groups of threes to
discuss the film and questions
that the young people had written
earlier on drugs, alcohol, dating
and other problems that they
face. Games were played during
the afternoon, while each child
worked on his special project to be
presented to the church at a later
date.

The evening was best of all— a
campfire service, communion,
lighting of candles and
testimonies. The presence of the
Lord was felt by all. A short Sun-
day School lesson on Sunday
morning closed out the weekend.

The weekend was enjoyed by
everyone. If you and your group
would like to use our facilities,
contact Mrs. Helen Keevert,
director of Child Care, at 235-2161.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

CHILDREN'S HOME

THE SUNSHINE SPECIAL

On October 1, Mr. Taylor at-
tended the Western District Aux-
iliary Convention at Stancil's
Chapel Church, on Highway 42,
near Kenly. During the Auxiliary
Convention, the auxiliaries from
the District showered the
Children's Home with a linen
shower. After returning to cam-
pus the linens were unloaded and
the children from State Cottage
came over to join in saying,
"Thank you!"

Also, a special thank you goes to
Mr. Cliff Gray and the Revs.
Harold Jones, James Joyner, Roy
Clifton, and De Wayne Eakes for
helping to load the linens.

Betty Jo and Roland Grady Jr., Frances Godwin, Carolyn and Lyman Bogue, Annie Belle and
Harold Williamson, Geraldine and Horace Stoth, Sue and Henry Newcomb, Doris and Sky
Shepard; Dawn, Barry and Marshall Lamm; Linwood and Polly Blackburn, and Romie Turner.

The Wilson Exchange Club members paid their annual visit to the
Children's Home the evening of September 18, bringing with them their
own portable concession stand filled with hot dogs, drinks, ice-cream
bars and candy. The Exchange members and children enjoyed
fellowshiping together while they ate and played on the grounds. One of
the biggest delights of the evening was when the balloons were
distributed. The little ones enjoyed this event but the teenagers seemed
to have the most fun making the balloons into strange, colorful
creatures and comparing their art work with friends. At the close of the
evening the children thanked the members. They later told the staff that
the Sunshine Special visit was one of their favorite evenings.

Since its inception over 70 years ago the Exchange Club has touched
the lives of thousands of children and adults. It is the only national
organization operated exclusively in America.

Child Abuse prevention has been the club's major concern on a na-
tional level. North Carolina hosts a Child Abuse Prevention Center in
Winston Salem, with other centers planned for Kinston and the Triangle
area. Crime prevention follows close behind child abuse as a major
concern for Exchange members. Theirs is the first civic club in the
country to emphasize crime prevention.

New members are always welcome. If interested you may contact
Mr. Phil Winstead in Wilson, NC; phone 237-4571.

CHRISTMAS SPONSORSHIP

Christmas time is fast approaching us all. The season brings
along with it the fun of the "hustle and bustle" of shopping, parties,
caroling and sharing with others. We too are preparing for this
busy time of year. If you or a group in your church would like to
help in our preparations by sponsoring a child for Christmas you
may do so by sending your contribution marked Christmas Spon-
sorship (full sponsorship is $100). We need to receive Christmas
Sponsorships by December first so we may begin our shopping.
Thank you for your continued love and support.

November 1986

19

FOREIGN MISSIONS

HOW AN ASCETIC FOUND HIS LORD

by Dr. E. M. Lall

I always keep on watching for
the time to proclaim the Word of
God, whether I am traveling,
visiting the sick, at an office, or
walking on the street or market. I
met one staunch Hindu ascetic
who came out from a big group of
ascetics near the river Ganges,
called Kachla, which is a rendez-
vous of such people and I had a
long discussion with him. From
the conversation I had with him I
became sure that he was the most
confused person on earth. He ex-
plained to me that he had left his
home when he was 16 years old in
the quest of attaining a deep
spiritual life which he had not
received as yet in spite of various
acts performed by him on the
directions of his superiors. He had
left the rendezvous of the ascetics,
having been greatly frustrated
and totally confused.

He was guaranteed that real
spiritual life and salvation are
available through none else than

20

the Lord Jesus Christ who is the
Saviour of all mankind. Having
been satisfied and hopeful he laid
paries of questions to me and was
real interested in the knowledge
of our Lord.

He has been entrusted to the
Rev. Puttan Masih, of our First
Free Will Baptist Church at
Dhaunra, for necessary guidance
to him. He is attending Dhaunra
Church regularly. When we feel
that he has acquired sufficient
knowledge of the Word of God and
that his conversion is by heart, he
will be baptized.

He told me that there are many
people like him in that rendezvous
who need to know about the Lord
Jesus Christ being the only
Saviour of mankind. He had re-
quested me to accompany him to
those people with whom he has
spent the major part of his life.
We seek your prayers and support
as we strive to win the lost souls in
our country.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

by Kim Baker

A month or so before school was
out, I started praying that the
Lord would give me a job this
summer, preferably in a hospital.
The Lord answered my prayers.
When I went to Palawan for the
summer, my dad went over to
Palawan Medical Clinic to ask
them if I could go there and
observe this summer. The doctor
said they would be very glad to
have me go there.

I started the third week of May
and worked until the end of June. I
wanted to work there as a
volunteer because I'm interested
in going into nursing. Just observ-
ing them was enough for me, but
they wanted me to practice. They
were willing to teach me anything
I was willing to learn.

During the day, I helped with
the work at the nurses' station and
with the intern who was there for
the month. I also went on the doc-
tors' rounds every morning. I
learned to do things like making
the beds, taking blood pressures
and temperatures, giving shots,
taking blood samples, writing
orders for lab work or x-rays, and
other small things. They tried to
get me to insert an IV, but I didn't
have enough courage. Also I could
watch any operation they had. I
watched three or four operations
and never got sick.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

Only one patient died while I
worked there. A little baby boy on-
ly 22 days old died of bronchial
pneumonia. I felt sorry for his
parents because their first child
died and they had a big hospital
bill to pay. Another experience
was watching ten people hold a lit-
tle boy down just to get his finger
pricked.

The doctors, nurses, and staff
were all really nice. I came to
know some of them really well. I
am thankful for the opportunity I
had to work at the hospital.

Thank you for your prayers.

BHAGWAN DAS
REGAINS HEALTH

Bhagwan Das

This boy has been in our school
at Galpura since 1982. He was
severely sick, with his skin crack-
ing from his head to his toes. Out
of Christian compassion, this boy
remained under treatment for
about two years. He has got over
his problem to a great extent.
However, his parents told us that
he is tired of taking medicines for
such a long time and has discon-
tinued for a few months. It may be
that he will come on medications
when the winter starts. He needs
your prayers.

For the past few years I've been
having tonsillitis quite a lot. When
I came home for the summer, we
asked the doctor if I could have
my tonsils removed. He con-
sented. We could not have it done
in Palawan because he didn't
have an anesthesiologist. We went
to Manila to get it done.

My dad and I checked into the
hospital on a Saturday morning
and I had my operation about one
o'clock that afternoon. The nurses
did all the usual things. When they
learned I spoke Tagalog, they
started speaking to me in
Tagalog. Something funny hap-
pened in the operating room. The
doctor didn't know I spoke
Tagalog. When the anesthesiolo-
gist was giving me anesthesia, I
heard him tell her I was taking a
long time to go. I thought that was
funny.

I got along fine until the time
started to pass and then I wanted
to go home. The doctor was sup-
posed to come to see us on Sun-
day, so we could go home. He
didn't come. Monday morning
Dad called him and he said we
could go home. The hospital went
on strike Monday, so we had to
walk through the strikers. They
were having a good time.

When we flew back to Palawan,
I was happy. I could finally
resume my regular activities like
riding the motorcycle, painting
the house, and playing basketball
with my friends. Since my opera-
tion, I have not had tonsillitis.
Praise the Lord! I've had an en-
joyable summer; being outside is
a joy. People who can do that
should pray for others who can't.
Please pray for me as I pray for
you.

Thanks for your prayers.

November 1986

21

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Honored at Bridge Builder Luncheon— The Rev. and Mrs. Alan Lamm of Smithfield, left, and
Pam Wood of Four Oaks, right, hold the plaques they received honoring them as Bridge
Builders at Mount Olive College. They are among 465 Bridge Builders who contributed
$72,648 at the 1985 dinners. Bridge Builders are Free Will Baptists who contribute amounts
ranging from $100 to $1000 or more at one of 17 annual MOC gift support dinners. Lamm is
pastor of First Church, Smithfield. Mrs. Laura Lamm serves as associate director of admis-
sions at Mount Olive. Miss Wood, MOC's assistant librarian, is a member of Roberts Grove
Church near Dunn. Two hundred forty people attended the Bridge Builder luncheon which
was held in September in College Hall (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

REMAINING COLLEGE DINNERS FOR 1986

Seven College dinners remain in this year's schedule, and Free
Will Baptists, alumni and all friends of Mount Olive College are in-
vited to attend the dinner in their area.

"I have been pleased with the attendance this year," ays Jean
F. Ackiss, "and we anticipate a good turnout at the remaining din-
ners." Mrs. Ackiss is director of the 17 annual gift support dinners.

Johnston-Wake Counties, Monday,
November 3, 7:00 p.m., Everett
Chapel FWB .Church (Spiritual
Life Building), Clayton, Donald
Coates and K. Alan Lamm, Co-
Chairmen. Goal: $30,650.

Carteret County, Saturday, Novem-
ber 8, 6:00 p.m. East Carteret
School, Beaufort, Reginald
Styron, Chairman. Goal: $9,730.

Washington, Tyrrell, Martin, Pas-
quotank Counties, Tuesday, No-
vember 11, 7:30 p.m., Washington
County Union School, Roper,
David Cahoon, Chairman. Goal:
$6,580.

Craven County, Thursday,
November 13, 7:00 p.m., West

Craven Middle School near New
Bern, Miss Marice DeBruhl,
Chairman. Goal: $13,550.

Wilson County, Monday, November

17, 7:00 p.m., Beddingfield High
School near Wilson, James B.
Hunt, Chairman. Goal: $23,550.

Pitt County, Tuesday, November

18, 7:00 p.m., D. H. Conley High
School, near Winterville, Mrs.
Dorothy D. Dail and Tim Tyndall,
Co-Chairmen. Goal: $22,100.

Sampson, Harnett, and Cumber-
land Counties, Thursday, No-
vember 20, 7:00 p.m., Clinton-
Sampson Agri-Civic Center, Clin-
ton, C. Felton Godwin, Chairman.
Goal: $10,320.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
FOR "MESSIAH"

The Department of Music of
Mount Olive College will present
two performances of Handel's
"Messiah" again this Christmas.
Under the direction of Carolyn M.
Knox, the College chorus will be
assisted by volunteers from
Mount Olive and the surrounding
area.

"Messiah"
December 9— (Tuesday) at 8:00
p.m.

December 14— (Sunday) at 4 :00p.m.

Both presentations will be held
at the First Baptist Church of
Mount Olive and will be accom-
panied by the Chamber Orchestra
of the North Carolina Symphony.
All friends of the College are in-
vited. There will be no admission
charge or offering.

New Historical Marker for MOC— Dr. W.

Burkette Raper, president of Mount Olive
College, left; the Rev. De Wayne Eakes, in-
coming president of the North Carolina
State Convention of Original Free Will Bap-
tists, center; and the Rev. Gary Bailey,
outgoing president of the Convention,
stand before the new Historical Marker for
Mount Olive College. Thousands of
travelers who pass by the College each day
can see the brand new historical marker.
The marker, erected recently by the North
Carolina Division of Archives and History,
updates Mount Olive's status as a senior
college (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

22

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE
TRUSTEES ELECTED

Six trustees were elected at the
annual meeting of the North
Carolina State Convention of
Original Free Will Baptists. Their
terms become effective
December 1. The Board of
Trustees is the official governing
body of Mount Olive College.

Edna M. Scarborough of Mount
Olive, L. Marvin Edwards of
Wilson, and Dr. Eugene M. Sum-
ner of Raleigh were re-elected to
the board; and Lloyd Jones Jr. of
Roper, Reginald Styron of Davis,
and C. Darryl Home of Goldsboro
are newly elected trustees.

Re-elected Trustees

Mrs. Scarborough, who joined
the board in 1982 to complete the
term of her late husband, Ray W.
Scarborough, is a member of the
Student Affairs Committee.

Edwards serves as vice chair-
man of the Board and chairman of
the Business Affairs Committee.

He has been a trustee since 1974.

Sumner has been on the board
since 1980 and serves as chairman
of the Academic Affairs Commit-
tee.

Newly elected Trustees

Jones is a member of Mount
Zion Church, Albemarle Con-
ference. He was elected to com-
plete the term of R. Clayton
Everett of Charlotte who resigned
to begin duties as Mount Olive's
vice president and treasurer.

Styron is a member of Davis
Church, Eastern Conference.

C. Darryl Home, an MOC alum-
nus, is a member of Stoney Creek
Church, Western Conference.

Honorary Member

Nathan H. Garner of Newport
was named an Honorary Trustee,
only the second person in the
history of Mount Olive College to
be so honored. Garner, vice presi-
dent of First Citizens Bank of
Newport, has served on the Col-
lege board for 18 years.

Evangelism Week at Mount Olive Col-
lege—Dr. Jim Ponder MOC Evangelism
Week speaker, left, talks with the Rev. Jim-
my Whitfield. The pastor of Pentecostal
Holiness Church in Goldsboro, Whitfield
joined with area ministers in an all-day
evangelism program held at the college. In
the background are the Rev. Doug Skinner,
pastor of Arapahoe Free Will Baptist
Church; the Rev. Ed Miles, pastor of Spring
Branch Free Will Baptist Church; Dan Jor-
dan, Hillsberry Free Will Baptist Mission;
and Aubrey Williamson, pastor of Friend-
ship Free Will Baptist Church, Johnston
County. The successful week of events
began with a Community Crusade in Col-
lege Hall. During his visit Ponder met with
students in the dorms, and conducted three
worship services in Rodgers Chapel, focus-
ing on the theme, "The Challenge of Chris-
tian Discipleship." At the final service 50
students responded to a rededication and
commitment to Christian service.

The Grubbs family is commissioned as missionaries— Mount Olive College alumni, the Rev. Paul Grubbs, third from left, and his wife, Teresa,
were commissioned as missionaries to the Philippines during this year's State Convention Missions Rally, held in CoJIege Hall. Pictured with
Grubbs, from left, are his mother, Lillian Grubbs of Mount Olive; his son, Nathaniel; Grubbs; his wife, Mrs. Teresa Grubbs, holding son Mat-
thew; Foreign Missions Director Harold Jones of Greenville; Roger Malinao, president of the Palawan Bible College; and the Rev. Pio B. Dela
Rosa, president of the Free Will Baptist Church, Philippines. Malinao delivered the message at the Rally. Approximately 1200 ministers,
delegates and guests attended the Commissioning Service held in conjunction with the North Carolina State Convention of Original Free Will
Baptists on the campus of Mount Olive College (photo courtesy Nelson Bland, Mount Olive Tribune).

November 1986

23

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

DEADLINE DRAWS NIGH!

It's December the 1st! All
nominations for "Teacher of the
Year" must be made by that date.
Nominations received after that
time will be held for the next year.

The first award will be given at
the March 7, 1987, meeting of the
Sunday School Convention. Every
teacher nominated will receive
special recognition.

This is an excellent way to show
your appreciation to deserving,
hard working teachers. So get
those forms filled out and turned
in as soon as possible.

For more information, call or
write: Bass Mitchell, Field
Secretary, Route 7, Box 471,
Goldsboro, NC 27530; 734-8378.

SUPPORT
YOUR CONVENTION!

Less than one-third of our
churches give any kind of finan-
cial support to the Sunday School
Convention. Although support is
better that it has ever been, we
are in need of the support of all
our churches. We are not the
federal government. We cannot
keep spending more than we take
in.

Why should this concern you?
Why should your church support
the Sunday School Convention?

We would not ask for your sup-
port if we did not feel that we
deserved it, that is, that we offer
our churches programs that will
help their Sunday Schools. For a
number of years the Sunday
School Convention seemed to have
lost its sense of purpose and was
not offering a great deal. But that
has changed!

Today we offer you the services
of the Field Secretary, an annual
convention with meaningful
fellowship and classes, workshops
on a variety of topics relating to
Sunday School work, a training
program for officers and
teachers, the ministers' and
superintendents' banquet, the
Teacher of the Year Program,
and we have some new programs
being developed.

24

We urge you to make use of
these programs and help us con-
tinue them. We ask that you set
aside $25 above what you have
been giving per quarter; that is,
an extra $100 dollars a year.
That's a bargain for the quality of
programs we offer your Sunday
School!

BROCHURE AVAILABLE

Perhaps you are wondering just
what the Sunday School Conven-
tion offers that deserves such sup-
port. Well, we have just printed a
brochure that tells you all about
our work. If you would like some
copies sent to your church, call
the Field Secretary.

"REVPVAL IN PITT COUNTY!"

That's how many persons
described the three Sunday School
seminars held for Pitt County
churches in September. We had a
revival in enthusiasm, dedication,
and knowledge in regard to the
Sunday School. Ninety-four per-
sons from 14 churches were
enrolled! It was a tremendous ex-
perience! We pray that the
revival will spread!

It grew out of the concerns of
the pastors in that county for their
Sunday Schools. They initiated it.
They promoted it. They took part
and made it happen.

The seminars concentrated on
the purpose of the Sunday School,
how Sunday Schools can grow, the
importance of having a caring
Sunday School, and seeing
teaching as a ministry.

You can do this for the churches
in your county! Pastors, it's up to
you. Get together. Talk and pray
about it. Call J. B. Narron, Harry
Grubbs, Ray Williamson, and any
of the other pastors in Pitt County
to learn more about how they
planned it. You, too, can have a
revival in your county!

COURSE COMPLETED

"The Basic Sunday School
Work" course for Sunday School
leaders was taught for the first
time in September at St. Mary's
Church. The following persons
participated: Charles Mason,
Ralph Casey, Louise Holt, and
Laurence Goodwin from St.
Mary's; John Mitchell from
Bridge ton Church; and Larry
Tyndall from Kinston Church.

This particular course is for
pastors, superintendents,
members of the Sunday School
Council and Board of Christian
Education, and all persons in-
terested in improving their Sun-
day School. If you would like to
schedule it in your area, call the
Field Secretary.

COURSE SCHEDULED

"How to Understand the Bible,"
a course in our Basic Teacher
Training Program, will be taught
by the Rev. Donald Coates at
Smithfield Church from
November 17-20. For more infor-
mation, call Alan Lamm
(934-8700), Donald Coates
(934-2727), or the Field Secretary.
Each session will be from 7 to 9 : 15
p.m.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

r- We encourage
Sail of you |§finish
those regaining
requirem

sunday school convention
Certificate Given

Linda Jenkins, a teacher from Deep Run Church, recently com-
pleted the requirements for the Basic Teacher Certificate. The Rev.
Adrian Grubbs, who has supported and made many contributions to the
work of the Sunday School Convention, is her pastor. The certificate was
given to Linda in a recent church service.

We congratulate Linda on this achievement. She is a dedicated and
gifted teacher.

Many other persons have completed two or more of the four re-
quirements for this certificate. They are:

Church

Trent

Piney Grove (Kenly)
Core Point
Core Point
Spring Hope
Stoney Creek

Name

Robert Williams Jr.
David Williams
Melvin White
June White
Sam Tyson
Pluma Sullivan
Jewel Styron
Robert Lee Smith
Doris Smith
Virginia Skinner
Doug Skinner
Ted Sherrod
Wayne Sawyer
Jeannie Sawyer
Jay Sauls
Blaney Rowe
Sybil Robinson
Peggy Rice
Robert Purifoy
Alice Purifoy
Carol Prescott
Lawrence Paul
Brenda Parsons
John Mitchell
Eleanor Mitchell
Mrs. James Lucas
James Lucas
Peggy Lamm
Mary Ellen Lones
Lenwood Lones
Grace Jones
Stanley Jenkins
Nettie Jenkins
Irene Jenkins
Dwight Hawley
Aileen Hawley
Madge Van Horn
Ada Hines
Milton Harper
Adrian Grubbs
Stokes Goodrich
Dennis Ford
Lawrence Ford
Jesse Ferrell
Clara Elmore
Billie Daw
Jimmy Collins
Barbara Collier
Eva Mae Clark
Adele Cahoon
Raymond Bowles
Allen Blount
Richard Barkley
Clara Barkley
Etta Batchelor
Sue Arinder

Arapahoe

Smith's New Home
Deep Run
Arapahoe
Arapahoe

Piney Grove (Kenly)
Core Point
Core Point
Piney Grove (Kenly)

Kinston

Rock of Zion

Spring Hope

Spring Hope

Rock of Zion

Arapahoe

Arapahoe

Bridgeton

Bridgeton

Kinston

Kinston

Little Rock

Arapahoe

Arapahoe

Arapahoe

Kinston

Kinston

Kinston

Sound Side
Kinston
Deep Run
Deep Run
Arapahoe
Little Rock
Arapahoe

Piney Grove (Kenly)
Kinston
Arapahoe
Spring Hope
Arapahoe
Spring Hope
Rock of Zion
Spring Hope
Arapahoe
Arapahoe
Arapahoe
Free Spirit
Spring Hope

25

HOME MISSIONS

After Five Years— A Church, At Last

The Director of Home Missions, the Rev. David C. Hansley,
presents to the pastor, the Rev. Harry Brown, and deacons a
framed letter from the Board of Home Missions expressing
their appreciation for establishing and building a church within
the five-year phase-out program.

The pastor, the Rev. Harry Brown, holds a plaque presented to The Adult Choir and Children's Choir sing special music for the

him from the Home Missions Board— "for Dedication and occasion.
Commitment in establishing the Horton Road Original Free
Will Baptist Church.

October 5 was an exciting day, for it was on that day that Horton Road Mission of
Durham was organized into a self-sustaining church by the Western Conference.

The work was begun in 1981 in a rented school auditorium; and for three years, make-
shift conditions were the order of things. After two years of hard work the congregation has
a beautiful building that will seat over 200. The spacious lot will be able to facilitate future
growth. The Rev. Harry Brown pastors this work.

26 THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

HOME MISSIONS

Representatives of Home Missions Board present were (left to Tne Moderator of the Western Conference, Dr. Floyd Cherry,

right) the Rev. Dean Kennedy, the Rev. David C. Hansley, Direc- presenting the organized Church to the pastor,

tor; the Rev. Mrs. Carlee Stallard, the Rev. Ray Wells, Chair-
man.

The Executive Committee of the Western Conference extend 106 Charter Members,

a right hand of fellowship to the pastor. (Left to right)
the Rev. Harry Brown, Pastor; Dr. Floyd Cherry, Moderator; the
Rev. J. C. Yates, Mr. Johnnie Howell, clerk.

Proud of the building, proud of the church-PROUD of the Members of the Church presented to the pastor's family, an ap-

babies also! preciation gift.

November 1986

27

NEWS BRIEFS

As evidenced by the picture, it takes a lot
of concentration to chop barbecue.

PLEASANT HILL CHURCH,
Route 2, Pikeville, had a contest
recently to gain new Sunday
School members. Two teams were
set up with the names "Hope" and
"Charity." The losing team,
"Hope" sponsored a pig pickin'
for the Sunday School on Satur-
day, September 20.

Activities included water
balloon tossing, egg tossing,
balloon "shaving," three-legged
race, and volleyball.

It was a fun day for all ages.

OAK GROVE CHURCH, Route 1,
Vanceboro, will be having revival
services November 9-12. The
prayer room will open each eve-
ning at 7:15, and the services are
scheduled to begin at 7:30. The
Rev. Kenneth C. Littleton, of Pink
Hill, will be the guest evangelist;
the Rev. William L. Littleton is
pastor.

The pastor and congregation
cordially invite everyone to at-
tend.

THE FIRST UNION OF THE
WESTERN CONFERENCE will
meet with Everett's Chapel
Church, Clayton, on Saturday,
November 15, at 10 a.m. The Rev.
Harold Swinson will be the guest
speaker (the Rev. Fred Riven-
bark is alternate speaker).

The Rev. James Joyner, clerk,
encourages all the churches of the

28

district to attend with full delega-
tion.

THE THIRD UNION OF THE
EASTERN CONFERENCE will
meet at Long Ridge Church,
Mount Olive (near Scott's Store),
at 9:30 a.m. All laymen and
pastors are encouraged to attend
this business meeting.

(Ms. Linda Pierce is clerk of the
union. Her address is as follows:
Route 1, Box 155, Maple Hill, NC
28454.)

THE STATE LAYMAN'S
LEAGUE CONVENTION will be
held at First Church, Kinston, on
November 21. The meeting will
begin at 7:30 p.m.

All laymen are encouraged to
attend.

SPRING BRANCH CHURCH
LADIES AUXILIARY, Walston-
burg, will have a fall bazaar on
Saturday, November 8, from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m. Among the many
things to be sold is a quilt which
the ladies of the Auxiliary quilted.
The Layman's League will be sell-
ing hot dogs and sandwiches from
11:30 to 1:30.

The pastor, the Rev. Ed Miles,
and the members of Spring
Branch Church, invite everyone
to join them for a day of fun and
fellowship.

THE SECOND UNION OF THE
WESTERN CONFERENCE will
convene on Saturday, November
22, at 7 p.m., with People's Chapel
Church.

FREE UNION CHURCH, Route 3,
Spring Hope, has scheduled a
series of revival services for
November 2-6. The Rev. James
Rogerson, pastor of Stony Hill
Church, will be the evangelist.
The Rev. Lester Duncan is pastor.

THE GRIFFIN BROTHERHOOD
will meet on Friday, November 7,
at 7 p.m., at Bill's Barbecue
Restaurant in Wilson. The pro-

gram, "The Call to the Ministry in
the Free Will Baptist Church,"
will be presented by Dr. Michael
Pelt, chairman of the Religion
Department at Mount Olive Col-
lege. All ministers and laypersons
are invited to attend the meeting.

The Griffin Brotherhood was
founded to perpetuate the
memory of the Rev. J. C. Griffin,
who was an outstanding Free Will
Baptist pastor and leader until his
death on September 8, 1967. The
Brotherhood fosters the progress,
development and growth of the
Original Free Will Baptist
Church.

The Rev. Leon Grubbs, pastor
of Hull Road Church, Greene
County, is president of the group.

CORE CREEK CHURCH, Cove
City, has scheduled revival ser-
vices for November 17-21. The
Rev. Norman Ard, pastor of First
Church, Goldsboro, will be the
guest evangelist. There will be
special singing each evening and
a nursery will be provided. Ser-
vices will begin nightly at 7:30.

The pastor, the Rev. Philip
Wood, and the church congrega-
tion invite all to come and enjoy
the Christian fellowship.

SHILOH CHURCH, Pine town,
will have an old-fashioned country
bazaar on Saturday, November
15. Doors will open at 10 a.m. Hot
meals will be served from 10 a.m.
until 8p.m. Hundreds of items, in-
cluding needlework, wood work,
furniture, crocheted pieces,
Christmas decorations, and much
more will be available. A flea
market will also be featured, with
toys, clothes, farm equipment, an-
tique horse equipment, baked
goods, and lots of good junk.

Everyone is invited to come and
spend an hour or the whole day!

THE CAPE FEAR UNION
MEETING will convene with Vic-
tory Church on Saturday, No
vember 30. The scheduled

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

program is as follows:
10:00— Hymn, congregation

—Devotion, the Rev. Luby
Tyner

—Welcome, Host Church
—Response, Mr. Peyton Lee
10:20— Enrollment of Officers and
Ministers
—Recognition of Visitors
—Reading of Minutes of the

Last Union Meeting
—Appointment of Commit-
tees

-Roll Call of Churches
—Report of Denominational

Enterprises
—Miscellaneous Business
11:15— Hymn, Congregation
—Special Music
— Offering and Offertory

Prayer

—Message, the Rev. Calvin
Heath

12:00— Report of Treasurer
—Report of Committees
—Unfinished Business
—Benediction and Adjourn-
ment

—Lunch and Christian Fel-
lowship

THE CENTRAL CONFERENCE
LAYMAN'S LEAGUE has
scheduled two singspirations. The
first, scheduled for November 1,
will be held at Ormondsville
Church, located in Ormondsville.
Adult singers will be featured dur-
ing this service. The second
singspiration will be held on
November 8, at Bethany Church,
near Winterville. Youth talent will
be highlighted at this service.
Both services will begin at 7 p.m.

The public is cordially invited to
attend.

Dr. Kenneth Moon

WESTSIDE CHURCH, located at
1205 Lynn Drive, Kinston, has
scheduled a missions emphasis
weekend for November 14-16. Dr.
Kenneth E. Moon will be the
featured speaker.

Dr. Moon serves as Minister-at-
Large for the Greater Europe
Mission, an evangelical
nondenominational missionary
fellowship whose goal is to train
Europeans to evangelize greater
Europe through Bible institutes,
seminaries, and church planting
ministries.

Other conference personalities
include Bob and Carolyn Branch,
missionaries to Liberia; Creig
and Sherry Marlowe, appointee
missionaries to the Netherlands;
Ms. Glenda Chop, missionary ap-
pointee to Ireland; and Mrs. San-
dra Jones, representing the State
Convention Foreign Missions
Board.

The Conference will begin on
Friday evening at 7:30. Afternoon
youth activities are being planned

for Saturday and a special mis-
sions banquet will conclude the
day's activities. The missions
thrust will continue throughout
the day on Sunday.

For more information, please
contact the Rev. Wayne King,
pastor of Westside Church, by
calling him at (919) 523-1055.

THE 1986 ANNUAL SESSION OF
THE CENTRAL CONFERENCE
will meet with Black Jack Church
on Thursday, November 6.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m.
and the Conference will convene
at 9:30.

MINISTER AVAILABLE

The Rev. Ralph Aycock an-
nounces that he is available for
full-time or part-time services. He
can be contacted by writing to
him at Route 1, Box 38-B, Kenly,
NC 27542; or by phoning 284-4254.

STATEWIDE
STUDY COURSE
for

ALL WOMAN'S
AUXILIARY MEMBERS
to

INTRODUCE AND
PREPARE
for

DEVOTION 1987:
"FAITH IS THE KEY"

November 8, 10 a.m. -12 noon
Rodgers Chapel
Mount Olive College
Frank R. Harrison, Speaker

(One-half of Your Member-
ship Required to Count on A-l
Chart) Lunch Available— $3

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden, North
Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that issue. Items for publication should be addressed to the
Editor, The Free Will, Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with our pur-
pose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each article is given the person whose
name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states, $8.50, $15.50
and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where it applies).

Every-Family Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches. Churches are
billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Kinston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice DeBruhl; De Wayne
Eakes; Darrell Home; Lynette Summerlin; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director; Janie Jones Sowers, Editor of Literature.

November 1986

29

"I WISH I HAD KNOWN

by Sara Craven

November has been proclaimed Hospice
Month by North Carolina Governor James
Martin. The hospice movement has grown
tremendously since its beginning in North
Carolina in 1976. In 1985, 2,745 patients
were served.

Churches have been among the primary
motivators of establishing hospices. If you
would like more information about this
valuable program, contact Hospice of
North Carolina, Inc., 800 St. Mary's
Street— 401, Raleigh, NC 27605; phone
1-800-662-8859, (919) 829-9588.

"I wish I had known about
hospice when my mother was
sick. " "I could never have cared
for my husband without the help
hospice gave me. " "It meant
everything for her to stay at
home. "

After a long day and an ex-
hausting week, these are the kinds
of comments that affirm the work
we have done with dying people
and their families. Our efforts to
give them nursing, emotional,
social and spiritual support have
helped them cope with some of the
most emotionally and physically
draining weeks they have ever ex-
perienced.

Most hospice programs in North
Carolina are oriented toward car-
ing for people at home, although
there are several hospital-based
programs. The reality is that
death comes to all of us. When the
time comes that aggressive
treatment — surgery , chemo-
therapy, radiation— no longer
yields positive results, then goals
change from curing to car-
ing.

Most people say they want two
things— to be comfortable and to
go home. Hospice exists to sup-
port patients and families in car-
rying out these wishes. But anxie-
ty is ever-present: "Will I be able
to keep him comfortable?" "Who
would I call if I get into trouble?"
"Will I be able to handle this emo-
tionally? will he? will the
children?" "Where can I get a
hospital bed?" "Will I ever have
any relief, or does everything de-
pend on me?" Hospice tries to

30

provide practical and individual
answers to these questions.

Working with the patient's own
physician and coordinating the
services of home health agencies,
the American Cancer Society,
social services and a myriad of
other agencies, the hospice team
seeks to fill the gaps in current
home-based care. The services
that differ from what is readily
available are : coordination of ser-
vices, volunteer support, 24-hour
on- call nursing consultation, and
bereavement counseling.

In our experience, the
availability of an on- call nurse is
of great importance to families.
They seem uncertain that they
heard us correctly: "Do you real-
ly mean there is someone we can
call at night or on weekends?"
Often they have been more afraid,
more vulnerable than they have
been willing to admit even to
themselves. Our volunteer
nurses, who have been fully
briefed on the situation of each pa-
tient and family, are on call dur-
ing non-office hours and are
available for consultation by
phone or for a home visit if that is
necessary. '

Hospice programs train
volunteers in the special needs
and concerns of dying people and
their families. This in-depth train-
ing helps them to be able to enter
a highly charged emotional at-
mosphere and to evaluate what
needs are not already being met.
Families often find it difficult to
ask friends for help; a volunteer
who is there for specifically that
reason is often asked. Volunteers
sit with the patient while family
members get out to run errands,
attend to business, or take a
needed break. Or they may go to
the grocery store, pick up
medicines, or carpool the children
to scouts so that the family
member can stay with the patient.
Volunteers also listen. We find
much reticence and protection
between patients and family
members, between families and
friends, among family members

themselves— they don't want to
burden each other with their most
painful and private feelings. A
hospice volunteer may act as a
sounding board, a buffer, a
referee, as well as a thoughtful
listener. Volunteers are an essen-
tial part of the patient care team;
their relationship to the families
provides a perspective that is
often different from the profes-
sionals' !

Bereavement care is crucial.
We may have cared for the pa-
tient for several weeks or months,
but the period of mourning is
longer and often more difficult
because of the loneliness and
isolation. Sometimes it is a staff
member who follows a family
member into this period; more
often it is the volunteer who has
established the closest relation-
ship. We sponsor bereavement
groups so that widows, widowers
and others can be of help to each
other. Bereaved people need
others who can listen to them
work out their feelings at their
own rate and who in quiet ways
can show them that there is in-
deed life ahead of them.

In all of our care the spiritual
dimension is present. Even if
unspoken, the eternal questions
are there: "Why me?" "Why
now?" "What is God's plan for
me?" Hospice staff and
volunteers are sensitive to these
issues; we do not promote any
particular faith but remain open
to each individual's needs, con-
cerns and theology. Most hospices
have clergy as consultants to the!
staff and involved with the train-
ing of volunteers. These clerical
consultants also serve as liaisons
between hospice and individual
members of the clergy in the com-
munity.

Hospice care is for a unique
group of people: those who know
that their time together is limited
and who are struggling to manage
that time in the best possible way.
We hope to help them live their
lives as fully and richly as possi-
ble until the very end.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EDITORIAL

WHY THE DROUGHT?

Undeniably, we live in a land which has been
blessed by God, a land where the "fields are white un-
to harvest." Why, then, is there no revival?

Yes, there are localized, sporadic stirrings in the
Body of Christ, as there have always been. And even
though God's alarm clock is going off every hour in
the form of earthquakes, floods, famines, droughts,
pestilences, wars and rumors of wars, there is no sign
of repentance. We are not at the family altar; we are
not praying. Yet Sunday after Sunday we continue to
sing:

"There shall be showers of blessing;
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing
Sent from the Saviour above . . .
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys
Sound of abundance of rain."

Where is the revival of which we sing and for
which we pray?

Well, let's be honest, many Christians do not ex-
pect revival (and many others do not want it). Some
have surrendered in a defeated spirit, folded their
hands and sit idly by, while millions might yet be
saved if God's people stirred themselves to take hold
of God. Others do not understand that we are not here
to merely hold the fort— we should take the fort, to
storm the ramparts of the enemy! If anyone lives on
the defensive, it should not be the children of God, for
we are the victors. Ours is the victory.

There seems to be no common understanding of
j the causes and conditions of revival, no agreement as
j to how it may be brought about. We seem to think that
i it just happens like a thunderstorm and that we have
I little to do with antecedent conditions. But even
j thunderstorms do not just happen, they have causes;
1 and while revival, like all else, is wrapped in the
i sovereignty of God, He has offered to pour out bless-
ings if we meet certain conditions. Confession of sin,
j for instance, is required; but we do not like to bite the
i dust and own up to God, "Against thee, thee only,
j have I sinned." Yet we must before we can pray,
i "Restore unto me the joy of my salvation." Some
repentance is genuine today, but most is not. We need
a real repentance, one that gets under the surface of
our shallow and superficial piety and cracks up our
church faces and smashes our obstinate rebellion.

We must ask ourselves if we want revival because
we need revival, or if we want revival to save our
face. (Is our only concern our dropping membership
total? ) Fallow ground must be broken up, even at the
cost of humiliation and embarrassment. God will not

November 1986

send showers of blessing on fallow ground, for that
would mean only briars and weeds would spring
forth. He will not waste His blessing on ground that
has not been prepared, and to prepare the soil of our
hearts means that they must be disturbed and broken
up. We cannot maintain a smooth exterior, while
underneath are roots of bitterness and hidden sins.
Yes, there are certain conditions of revival; and when
they are met, revival will come. (God has not
changed the price of revival, nor has He put any of His
blessings on bargain counters at reduced prices.)

Another reason why the showers have been
withholden is that there is no unity among God's peo-
ple; we are not of one accord. This is true in churches
and in denominational hierarchies. Church leaders do
not want growth because they might lose some of
their power— just like they have real power. Is God
not supreme? Should not His directions, His leader-
ship, be followed? More often than not everyone
seems to be out for himself and the cause of Christ
suffers.

The church has also lost the willingness to con-
demn sin. There is a tendency to paint a lovely picture
of Christ and then say, "There He is, now fall in love
with Him ! ' ' But the natural man cannot love Christ
nor feel any need of Him until he faces the fact of sin
and his need of a Saviour. Our message should begin
where the Bible begins, with God. And until men see
themselves as sinners in need of Him, they will not
grow sick of sin and forsake it. We do not need people
joining the church on empty professions of faith, car-
rying their sin with them; we need repentant people
who have been called to righteous living.

And yet another problem exists : we have lost the
note of joy. Yes, feelings are dangerous and not to be
unduly emphasized; but man has intelligence, will
and emotion; a real experience with God will affect
all three. What would love, music, patriotism, all of
life's deep interests be worth if they did not stir emo-
tion? Certainly life's greatest experience should stir
us as nothing else. While some Christians begin with a
fever and end with a chill, and others endure but for a
season, we should not discredit the fact that our "joy
may be full."

While these thoughts are not earth shaking and
many other reasons need to be considered as well, let
us "ask of the LORD rain in the time of the latter
rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds and give
them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."

"Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops 'round us are falling
But for the showers we plead."

31

DUKE UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

PERIODICALS

DURHAM

NC £7706

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME

by Henry Alford

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest-
home:

All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied:
Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of har-
vest-home.

All the world is God's own field, fruit unto His praise
to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grown;
First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall
appear:

Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure
may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His

harvest home ;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away;
Give His angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come to Thy final harvest-home ;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from
sin;

There, forever purified, in Thy presence to abide:
Come, with all Thine angels, come, raise the glorious
harvest- home.

The Free Will

BAPTIST

December, 1986
Vol. 101, No. 12

3 Great Expectations?

Foreign Missions News

State Convention Update: The Ministry Concept

11 1987 Calendar

39 Children's Home Happenings

42 Sunday School Convention News

45 Mount Olive College Events

Edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc., 811 North Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden, North
Carolina (USPS 2094-4000).

All materials for consideration in any issue must be in the hands of the editor thirty days prior to the publication date of that Issue. Items for publication should be addressed to the
Editor, The Free Will Baptist, P.O. Box 159, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159.

The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with our pur-
pose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the North Carolina State Convention of Original
Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each article Is given the person whose
name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

All subscriptions are payable in advance: one year, $8.88; two years, $16.20; four years, $31.35 (including sales tax for North Carolina residents); residents of other states, $8.50, $15.50
and $30 respectively (plus sales tax where It applies).

Every-Famlly Plan: A 25 percent discount given when local churches send the "Baptist" to the home of every member; names and addresses to be provided by churches. Churches are
billed quarterly. Bundle Plan: Lots of 25 or more "Baptists" are sent to one Individual who in turn distributes these. A 50 percent discount is offered under this plan.

Bookstore Hours: Ayden, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday— Saturday; Wilson, 10 a.m.— 6 p.m., Monday— Saturday; New Bern, and Klnston, 9:30 a.m.— 5 p.m.; Monday— Saturday.

Board of Directors— Adrian Grubbs, President; James Billy Hardee, Vice President; Joe Griffith, Secretary; Ruth Taylor, Assistant Secretary; Eddie Edwards, Marice DeBruhl; De Wayne
Eakes; Darrell Home; Lynette Summerlln; David W. Hansley, Chairman Emeritus.

Free Will Baptist Press Foundation, Inc.: Cliff Gray, Executive Director; Bobby Pennington, Financial Director, Janle Jones Sowers, Editor of Literature.

2

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Great

Expectations?

For most of us, Christmas is a
collection of fantastic expec-
tations, some of which result in
heartbreaking disappointments.
Everyone wants a Currier and
Ives Christmas, complete with
Norman Rockwell family rela-
tionships. But for many the holi-
day season seems to be a continu-
ing serial of "As the World
Turns." And when it is all over,
when the tree is back in its box,
the uneaten cookies have begun to
crumble, when the bathroom
scales show us to weigh more than
we ever have, when the new toys
are broken in and sometimes just
broken, when the Christmas cards
stop straggling in and the carols
are no longer being sung at
church, we fall exhausted on the
couch, still wondering what's
wrong. Why wasn't it all like we
imagined it was going to be?

Then we tell ourselves how it
used to be different. In our minds
we think of the days of figgy pud-
ding, handmade gifts, well-
behaved children, peace on earth
and goodwill for men. We long for
Christ's presence in the holidays,
for a celebration of nativity that
takes precedence over all the
peripherals of food, decorations
and gifts.

But we have to remember that
Christmas is not a cure-all. Only
unhappiness and disappointment
can come when we expect
Christmas to take care of all the
problems in the world, in family
situations and within our very be-
ings, for seasonal truces can hard-
ly be called Peace on Earth. And
no matter how close we want our
families to be, it is obvious that

I

youth can easily be bored with our
traditions; Dad is still concerned
over money ; Mom is still battling
a diet problem ; Grandmother still
hates living in a nursing home;
and the young children still want
something else! Christmas only
serves as a harsh spotlight whose
beams illuminate the fractured
family and expose its brokenness
and pain as few other things can
do.

Christmas will not make your
home a larger dwelling; it will not
transform you into a gracious host
or a good cook. The holidays will
not change your parenting
abilities and give you more pa-
tience, if you need it. It will not
restore health, improve your self-
esteem; pay for itself, or heal a
broken marriage.

And probably, Christmas will
not bring snow.

Thus, we hope and hope and
hope and hope .... We don't
necessarily do anything about it,
but we do hope that somehow,
someway Christmas will be dif-
ferent. We hope that Christ will
settle Himself in our hearts as He
did in the manger in Bethlehem;
we hope that everything will be as
it should be. We hope, we hope, we
hope, we hope ....

The trouble, in large part, is
that we don't know what our ex-
pectations are. They exist
somewhere inside of us, unar-
ticulated, and we become aware
of them only after they are not
met.

There are two ways to resolve
the tension that exists when ex-
pectations are at odds with reali-
ty. First, we can revise our expec-
tations. In some cases, this is a
simple task. Having recognized a
discrepancy between what we ex-
pect and reality, we could sit
down and say, "Now look here,
you must quit getting depressed
over the fact that it doesn't snow
in Farmville at Christmas ! Think
about it for a minute and you'll
see that there is nothing to be
gained by moaning over the fact
that it won't snow again this year.
It would be nice, but it probably
just won't happen."

Revising expectations is an op-
tion that is available to most of us.
To start, we should analyze them
with a view to discovering how
they came to be a part of our fan-
tasies, ferreting out their source.

—How did I get the idea that it was
supposed to be like this?

— If I were left to myself, would I
come up with this as an expecta-
tion?

—If I could have this wish fulfilled,
would I be satisfied, or would I
just want something different?

Discovering that your
unrealistic expectations are the
result of a Madison Avenue
Christmas advertising blitz, or
that you have bought into the
super-homemaker image
presented in women's magazines,

(Continued on Page 47)

December 1986

3

Questions For Christmas

WHY DID JESUS COME?

Did He come so we could have a holiday?
Did He come to share His glory with Santa Claus?
Did He come so kids could get lots of toys?
Did He come so the liquor industry could make large year-end profits?
Did He come so retail sales would be good?
Did He come so we could decorate things beautifully?
Did He come so we could exchange gifts with each other?

-OR-

Did He come because the world was lost in sin?
Did He come to give His life a ransom for sin?
Did He come to bring peace and goodwill to earth?
Did He come for all people or just a few?
Did He come to save whosoever will believe?
Did He come to build, equip and send His church to the ends of the earth with the gospel?

What do you think?
Why is what you think important?
Because what you think will determine your respoinse to God's
command to preach the gospel to every person on earth.
What kind of response can you make?

FOREIGN MISSIONS IS YOUR MINISTRY AND NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!

1. Your prayer support is needed NOW. Prayer is the keystone to spiritual victory.

2. Gift support is substantially below the budget for 1986-87 church year. Your gift NOW can ease this
situation.

So you see, what you think and how you respond NOW will make a difference? Christmas is Christ giv-
ing Himself for a world of lost people. Christians are saved ones who give themselves and their means
so others can become Christian.

THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS IS YEAR-ROUND WORK FOR CHRISTIANS.

From the Board of Foreign Missions: God bless you with the most meaningful Christmas of your life as
you share to make Him known to the ends of the earth.

PEOPLE, YOUR GIFTS TO FOREIGN MISSIONS SUPPORT:

Philippines

3 missionary families: Bakers,

van der Plas and Grubbs
29 pastors, teachers and staff

(all Filipino)
India

84 pastors, teachers and ad-
ministrative personnel
Mexico

11 pastors
Foreign Missions Office

2 administrative personnel

All of these people are supported by your faithful contributions to Foreign Missions each month.
Please remember them in your prayers as they labor to make Christ known around the world.

4

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

REVIVAL AND WORLD OUTREACH

by Harold Jones

Great awakenings spawn great mission efforts around the world.
This has been true throughout the history of the church. When,
however, the church becomes bogged down in internal affairs and in-
difference and division sets in, the outreach of the church is
stalemated. The vision dims and reaching the lost becomes second-
ary rather than primary. The church tends to pride itself on physical
achievement— buildings, beautification projects, physical comforts,
programs for members, fun time and busy work that really do nothing
to advance the kingdom of God, but serve to ease the guilt for not
really following God's instructions. This is actually the state of the
church today. The only hope for change is a confession of our sins, a
seeking of the fullness of God, a spiritual awakening where the
spiritual overshadows the physical and we get our minds and atten-
tion on God's agenda for the church. This will not happen with the
snap of a finger or a new program, but only through humble, sincere
prayer.

I know God wants to revive the Free Will Baptist Church. I
believe that you also desire revival. I plead with you to persevere in
prayer. Pray daily, pray without ceasing for a spiritual awakening in
the Free Will Baptist Church. Friends, it is our only hope. We cannot
settle for a substitute or diversion, there have been too many already.
We must have revival. Fervent, soul-searching prayer is the answer.
The life of our church and lost souls around the world depend on a
renewal in the Free Will Baptist Church.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

A PERSONAL PLEA: Dear Friend, please join me in daily prayer
for revival. This is the very longing of my heart for our church. God
will send revival if we truly desire it and persevere in prayer.

FOREIGN MISSIONS

CHILD DEDICATION
AT MANALO

by Willem Van der Plas

We drove for almost two hours
in our 1976 Toyota Corona station
wagon over the rough roads to
"outreach" Manalo, where Miss
Suzan dela Rosa and Miss Analiza
Regala are working as student-
servants.

They invited us to the child
dedication service which was led
by Suzan's father, the Rev. Pio
dela Rosa. We enjoyed the trip.
Though the rainy season had not
yet started, nature showed abun-
dant growth. Palawan is
beautiful.

At the purok building we met
the believers of Manalo. A purok
building belongs to the purok
members; the towns and cities
are divided into baranggays and
puroks.

One of the members is playing
the guitar before the service and
stopped only to shake a brotherly
hand with the arriving believers.
Over 30 adults attend the Sunday
School and worship service, and
there are over 20 children in the
Sunday School class.

The meeting became a fantastic
celebration of the Lord's Day and
at the end of the service we met
two little children with their
parents in front of the congrega-
tion, because it was the wish of the
parents to dedicate those little
children to the Lord. They prom-

ised Him to fulfill their task as re-
quired in Christian education.

I thought about the meaning of
this step and discovered two
possibilities: We can educate
these children by words and rules
of faith and put them thus on the
path of Christian life, or we
educate them in the presence and
the experience of the living God
and the living Word.

One of the children clung to his
mother at the moment that the
pastor took him from her to pray
the dedication prayer. It affirmed
my thoughts: "We can educate in
perfect systems of faith and still
be far away from our Father's
goals. We ourselves remain in
fear and insecurity ; just as the lit-
tle child needs its mother, all
God's children need the Father;
we all need that thought of
safety." In that thought I am con-
nected to all my brothers and
sisters on earth, because I am
dedicated to the Father and His
family. I declare, I proclaim my
family relationship by means of
my life and my love.

The wonderful sign of this
dedication proves that our Father
is working unto this hour. Last
year in July those two sisters in
Christ started to serve at Manalo
and through them we see that the
Lord brought His family together
at this place. So He blesses the
work to give us strength to go on
walking with our hand in His
hand.

TWO MORE FREE WILL
BAPTIST CONGREGATIONS
CONSTITUTED

by Dr. E. M. Lall

The Free Will Baptist Church in
India is second to none in the
country so far as our evangelistic
and educational work is con-
cerned. In spite of our limited
sources and resources the Lord is
blessing us in many ways! We af-
firm that all this is the result of
your prayers and the good leader-
ship of our Board of Foreign Mis-
sions. We cannot resist submitting
that our Director, the Rev. Harold
Jones, bears great burdens and
concerns of the foreign missions.

Our native preachers and
teachers are Spirit-filled and have
a great sense of responsibility to
their assignments. Very often we
lift up this family of God before
His throne of grace! In spite of
difficult living conditions, a sense
of insecurity, chaos and the daily
growing of cost of living, we are
still healthy and happy in the hope
that our Lord is with us always!

Our constant efforts have suc-
ceeded in establishing two Free
Will Baptist congregations at
Lalkurti and Chaokoni, comprised
of 23 and 148 members respective-
ly. It is an entirely new venture
in the Kumaon hills about 6000
feet above sea level. This hill sta-
tion is famous for its cold weather
throughout the year with snowfall
from December to March and is

6

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

FOREIGN MISSIONS

The Cha-okni congregation's place of wor-
ship.

also noted for various kinds of
fruits.

The Rev. I. C. Lai, who is a
theological graduate, leading to
the Bachelor of Divinity degree,
pastors these congregations. His
wife, Bina Lai, is a teacher in our
Sirauli school. She is also a
graduate in religious education.

The elderly people of these con-
gregations are trying to spread
our church work in some more
places in the hills.

We solicit your prayers that we
may yet be more effective in our
ministry of God's work.

TWO MORE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED

by Dr. E. M. hall

Fatehpur school children.

We owe our gratitude to God for
enabling us to establish two more
elementary schools in August 1986
under the banner of our church
organization at Fatehpur and
Dastumpur in the districts of Bu-
daun and Bareilly respectively.

During our last evangelistic
campaign we came to know these
remote, isolated places. There are

The rented school building at Fatehpur. The

no other schools in these villages
than these, nor are there any
schools near these villages. Our
enquiry shows that only 1 or 2% of
the people in Fatehpur village
have any education, and that the
one educated person in Dastum-
pur village has gone blind. It is
pathetic to note that there is none
in this village who can read and
write letters for the villagers.
Therefore, this task is undertaken
by the postman on his visits to the
village and he charges for this
service.

We have an enrollment at
Fatehpur of 52 students while
there are 82 students in our
Dastumpur school. These schools
are located entirely among non-
Christians, although a very few

hool has been in operation since July, 1986.

Christian people also live there.
Our long conversations with the
people of these villages reveal
that they long for the peace and
hope not found in their own
religions. Our follow-up program
in connection with these schools
might turn a majority of these
people to the fold of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Besides, our task of
education in these villages will be
of immense value and help in the
development of these villages. We
have found a rented building at
Fatehpur but the school at
Dastumpur will run in the open
air.

This is in compliance of our
commitment of doubling the work
of our church before the end of the
year 1990.

December 1986

7

TOUR TO THE PHILIPPINES
SPONSORED BY THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS

APRIL 2-13, 1987

Visit our Free Will Baptist work in the Philippines. You will meet the Baker, van der Plas and Grubbs families,
plus all the workers in the Philippines. You will visit Palawan Bible College, the Free Will Baptist churches
and mission points. You will be in worship services and also get a feel of outreach ministry. We will tour
Manila and on our return trip spend two days in Honolulu, Hawaii. This will be a trip you will never forget. It
will broaden your vision fof world missions.

Below is a schedule of the tour:

April 2

Leave Raleigh

8:17 A.M.

3

Arrive Manila

9:40 P.M.

4

Leave Manila

12:10 P.M.

Arrive Puerto Princesa

1:20 P.M.

5-8

Visiting work, Palawan

9

Leave Puerto Princesa

2:20 P.M.

Arrive Manila

3:30 P.M.

10

Tour Manila, shopping

11

Leave Manila

10:25 A.M.

Arrive Honolulu

8:55 A.M.

12

Tour Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

6:55 A.M.— 12:55 P.M.

12

Leave Honolulu

5:35 P.M.

13

Arrive Raleigh

1:03 P.M.

*The cost of the tour per person is $1 ,495. This price includes round-trip air fare, hotel (if you stay in a double
room— single room higher), transfers, ground transportation, tour of Manila, Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.
This does not include food or spending money.

If you desire to go, we need to hear from you by December 15, 1986, and we will need payment by December
27, 1986, in order to avoid a possible price increase January 1. The maximum number that can be taken on
the tour is 50. Reservations will be made on a first reply basis. So if you want to go, reply quickly.

Fill out the information below and mail to the: Board of Foreign Missions

P. O. Box 39
Ayden, N. C. 28513

Cut along this line

YES, RESERVE A PLACE FOR ME ON THE TOUR TO THE PHILIPPINES!

NAME

ADDRESS ,

CITY STATE , ZIP

CHURCH

I understand that reservations will be made on a first reply basis and that payment must be made by December 27, 1986.
The Board of Foreign Missions cannot accept any responsibility for injury, sickness, etc. for anyone who signs up for the tour.

8

THE FREE WELL BAPTIST

THE MINISTRY CONCEPT

by De Wayne Eakes
State Convention President

The "Day of Prayer" attended by leaders of our
Denominational Ministries, Conference Leaders,
and the State Convention Executive Committee
prior to the 1986 State Convention was very unifying,
beneficial and uplifting. Some of the discussion and
sharing of that meeting dealt with helping our people
to see our various programs as "Denominational
Ministries" rather than seeing them as institutions
and enterprises. We urge all of our people to use the
term "ministry" or "ministries" when referring to
the various areas of our outreach as a Convention.
This is more than a matter of words, it is dealing
with the entire concept of ministry and with how we
see the mission of the Church.

The idea that each of our "ministries" is a com-
mercial business flooding us with advertising
competing to get our support is erroneous and
counterproductive to our mission as His Church. In
reality each of these ministries offers us the
privilege and opportunity to extend the ministries of
each local Church world-wide and in many diverse
ways.

We need to see ourselves as a vital part of the
Ministry of Foreign Missions; Home Missions
Ministry; the Ministry of Child Care (CH) ; Christian
Higher Education Ministry (MOC) ; the Retirement
Homes Ministry ; Youth and Retreat Ministry (Crag-
mont) ; the Ministry of Church Finance, the Ministry
of the Ministers' Program ; and the Ministry of the
Free Will Baptist Press. Each of these areas of
ministry are avenues of service beyond the ministry
capabilities of each local unit of the Body of Christ.

We are directly involved in this varied, world-
wide outreach as we give of our energy, talents,
prayers and finances to support, further develop and
strengthen these various ministries. How we re-
spond to these various ministry opportunities is the
proof of our stewardship of all God's blessings to us!

The Ministry Concept is one way we can gain a
fresh perspective on our denomination's outreach
work. The word "minister" means "to serve";
"ministry" means the "act of serving." As the Rev.
Frank Harrison reminded us on the second day of
our 1986 State Convention, if we truly follow the
leadership of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we are called to
follow Him in servanthood. This is the New Testa-
ment image as set forth by Jesus and the image of
the first century church!

We invite your prayers and increased financial

December 1986

support of each and every program of our State Con-
vention's Ministries. We also ask that you add to
those prayers, a prayer that young men and women
would respond to God's call to the gospel ministry.
This is included realizing that we do not have as
many young people entering the ministry as we once
have had. We believe God is still calling; we ask for
prayer that those who are called will respond to His
call!

Two Constitutional Changes were adopted by the
seventy-fourth setting of the North Carolina State
Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. These two
changes have given occasion to some cause for con-
cern, and the intent and purpose of the changes need
to be clearly stated.

Change #1: The title of the "Board of Home Mis-
sions and Church Extension" was changed to the
"Board of Home Missions and Evangelism." The
work of evangelism is specified in the State Conven-
tion Constitution and By-laws as regards this
ministry. This does not imply that only this Board is
charged with the work of evangelism. Certainly it is
hoped that all of our State Convention Ministries
would be involved in evangelism as well as our
several conferences and each local church. In the
future we hope and pray to see some generous,
evangelistic-minded Christian to endow a chair of
Evangelism and Church Growth at Mount Olive Col-
lege. It is hoped that our various denominational
ministries will cooperate in the work of evangelism
and church growth emphases for our denomination.
A unified effort in this area, as well as other areas of
our work, will undoubtedly be more blessed of the
Lord.

Change #2: A "Board of Denominational
Publications' ' was created. This Board was charged
with "creating, editing, publishing, and distribution
of denominational publications that deal with church
leadership, history, beliefs, and any other topics per-
taining to the development of denominational life."
It needs to be clearly understood that this Board
does not, in any way, intend to alter, supersede or
take over the work of any existing board or organiza-
tion which may print, edit or publish materials that
they have been handling in the past. This Board was
created as an attempt to stimulate further interest
in our people writing materials for our churches. It
is one way we hope to extend and strengthen our
ministry.

9

Ministers' Program

Children's Home

Home
Missions

.Retirement Homes

Cragmont

Ministries
Of The
Original Free

Will Baptist
Church

Foreign
Missions

Mount Olive College

THE GREAT COMMISSION
(MATTHEW 28:19; MARK 16:15)

Church Finance Association
Free Will Baptist Press Foundation

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

3 j

Genesis 7-9 jj

Cape Fear District Youthj
Fellowship, Bethel Church!

10

Genesis 28-30

17

Gen. 49-Exo. 1 -

Central District Youth Fel- 1
lowship, Talent Night, Elm 1
Grove Church, 7 p.m.

24 |

Exodus 20-22 r

31 j

Exodus 40 J

2

Genesis 4-6

9 Genesis 25-27

State Convention Executive
Committee Meeting with
Conference Represen-
tatives, Smithfield Holiday
Inn, 10 a.m.

16

Genesis 46-48

23

Exodus 17-19

30

Exodus 38-39

1

Genesis 1-3

New Year's Day

8

Genesis 22-24

15

Genesis 43-45

22

Exodus 14-16

29

Exodus 35-37

7

Genesis 19-21

14 1

Genesis 40-42

21

Exodus 11-13

28

Exodus 32-34

6

Genesis 16-18

13

Genesis 37-39

Spring Convocation, Rod-
gers Chapel, MOC, 11 a.m.

20

Exodus 8-10

Home Missions Board Meet-
ing

27

Exodus 29-31

5

Genesis 13-15

12

Genesis 34-36

19

Exodus 5-7

26

Exodus 26-28

|4

1 Genesis 10-12

| Spring Semester Begins,
\ MOC

1 Genesis 31-33

I

! 18

Exodus 2-4

25

Exodus 23-25

CD

be

be
U

o

o
Q

CO

0) „ — i- co m

UJ

IS

00
0)

H

h

D

O

<

1 Isaiah 1-4

Young People's Bible Confer- |
ence, Cragmont i

Cape Fear District Youth |
Fellowship Annual Cook- j
out

8

Isaiah 38-42

WA Conference I, Cragmont

15

Jer. 4-6

WA Conference II, Cragmont

22

Jer. 29-31

Piedmont Conference

29

Jer. 51-52

Cape Fear District Union
Meeting, Bethel Church

7

Isaiah 32-37

WA Conference I, Cragmont

14

Jer. 1-3

WA Conference II, Cragmont

21

Jer. 26-28

Piedmont Conference

28

Jer. 49-50

6

Isaiah 27-31

WA Conference I, Cragmont

13

Isaiah 64-66

WA Conference II, Cragmont

20

Jer. 23-25

27

Jer. 45-48

5

Isaiah 22-26

Wa Conference I, Cragmont

Church Finance Association
Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.

12

Isaiah 58-63

WA Conference II, Cragmont

19

Jer. 19-22

26

Jer. 41-44

4

Isaiah 15-21

WA Conference I, Cragmont
Ministers' Institute, MOC

11 Isaiah 52-57

WA Conference II, Cragmont

Foreign Missions Board
Meeting, Headquarters, 10
a.m.

18

Jer. 15-18

25

Jer. 37-40

3

Isaiah 10-14

WA Conference I, Cragmont

Ministers' Institute, MOC

10

Isaiah 47-51

WA Conference II, Cragmont

17

Jer. 11-14

CD

c

CD

„ -2 - a

CD £ w •=

* Ii£ s

J
■}

2

) Isaiah 5-9

1

!

! Isaiah 43-46

1 16

j Jer. 7-10

to
c

CD
tD
ffi

CO £ CM
CO cn '
CM p

w 1 o p

« ? 2 -1

~ u.

~A o

m

D
U

o

o

p

CHILDREN'S HOME

PUMPKINS

Smiles and fun were the order of
the day when a group from the
Children's Home visited the home
of Ralph and Joyce Smith of Red
Oak. After seeing the happy faces
of grandchildren in his pumpkin
patch he decided to share this
treat with other children.

We had no problem finding
volunteers to harvest the pump-
kins and the children were eager
for our journey to begin. Mr.
Smith's daughter led the way to
their rural home.

After politely viewing the
Smiths' fowl, which included
guineas and a blue chicken, we
raced to the pumpkin patch.
Dozens of the yellow-orange
vegetables were spread across
the field and the children began
harvesting with enthusiasm. They
found it difficult to decide which
pumpkins to choose, but generally
followed the rule that the smaller
the child, the larger the pumpkin
selected.

After thanking Mr. Smith they
all waved good-bye as our van

(with pumpkins rolling around)
left for home.

We also would like to thank Mr.
Stanley Bailey from Stantonsburg
for making a generous donation of
more than 40 pumpkins to our
children. This donation made it
possible for the children to have a
contest to see who could make the
best jack-o- lantern, and we had
pumpkin pies galore for Hal-
loween.

A TRIP TO THE STATE FAIR

After much anticipation and
planning, October 21 finally ar-
rived and State Cottage set out for
the North Carolina State Fair. We
were blessed with a beautiful
autumn day to make our excur-
sion. Sitting on the edge of the seat
in the van, Billy kept asking,
"How much farther? When will
we get there?"

Once parked and in the fair, the
fun began. Faces lit up and groups
set out in different directions to
ride rides, see the animals and eat
"junk" food. Billy's favorite ride
was the "Scary House" or
haunted house. Michael, Bobby,

and Eugene liked riding the sky
lift. Micah was a little more dar-
ing and rode the "Polar Bear."
The girls had fun making their
choices of rides also. Then came
time for hot dogs and ice cream or
cotton candy until everyone was
full of food and excitement. The
sun began to set, our pockets were
empty of money and our legs were
working overtime, so it was back
to the van, back to Middlesex and
back to reality. It was fun while it
lasted.

HALLOWEEN PARTIES

On Wednesday, October 29,
1986, a group from Atlantic Chris-
tian College, Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sorority, came to the Home to
have a party for State Cottage.

The children really enjoyed
playing games such as "Duck,
Duck, Goose" and "Dodge Ball."
The sorority group had a treat bag
for each of the kids which they
especially enjoyed.

Upon leaving, hugs and prom-
ises of "Hope to see you again!"
were exchanged.

On Thursday, October 30, 1986,
the DECA Club of Southern Nash
Senior High School came to play
games and bring Halloween
goodies to State Cottage. All the
children were waiting with excite-
ment when they heard the cars
drive up. In came a witch, a clown
and several other girls suitably
dressed. We played "Drop the
Clothespins in a Jar" and no one
missed more than two. Everyone
got prizes of balloons for doing so
well. Next came "Pin the Stem on
the Pumpkin" and everyone—
even Joann— came close to the
stem. This had nothing to do with
the fact that we could use both
hands and feel the crack! By this
time it was getting late and the
witch decided to give hugs and
rub off some of her white make-up
on our children. They loved it as
well as the bags of candy they left
behind. We all decided we'd be
glad when it was Halloween
again!

(Turn the Page)

December 1986

39

CHILDREN'S HOME

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

There is so much to be thankful for at the Children's Home during
this beautiful season of the year. We have a talented and dedicated staff
who have committed themselves to Christian service. Our social
workers and cottage supervisors and all staff members devote many ex-
tra hours for the benefit of the children because they love them. And in
return for this love they earn the love and respect of the children.

Many Thanksgiving seasons have become fond memories at the
Children's Home, memories that the children and staff will always
cherish.

TIME TO LEAVE

I did not see that much of you
While you were home— a yawning
smile,

Hurrying out the door in the morning
On an empty stomach (you never ate
A proper breakfast or got enough
sleep).

And sometimes, you and your mother
and I

Would have a spontaneous, frivolous,
Late-night chat (those were the best).
The rest of our communication

seemed to begin
With you asking to borrow the car.

And yet the house never seemed

brighter,
Than when you were in it.
Your love of life and enthusiasm
Seemed to imbue the very wails;
Your entrance brought smiles to

everyone.

I hate change, even more than you do.
I wish things could stay as they are
Forever.

But if they did, you could never
become

The person you were intended to be.

And so, you are off to college—
A bit scared, but looking forward.
New friends, new challenges,
And enough old friends
To smooth the transition.

I don't like their dorm regs, or lack
of same;

When your mother was a student
there . . .

But there I go, sounding like a father.
Your heavenly Father will look after
you;

He's done a pretty good job, so far.

And you need to be on your own
now—

Your own space, your own life.
You need to complete
The job so well begun,
The job of becoming.

I never told you how pleased I was

With who you're becoming.

Not for anything would I abort that

process
By holding you here,
When you should be there.

I know It's time for you to leave.

I wish it weren't, but it is,

And it's right.

I just wish my heart

Would catch up with my head.

—David Manuel

40

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

EXCITEMENT
ANTICIPATION
AND SUSPENSE . . .

The month of December brings
a lot of excitement, anticipation
and suspense to our campus. Put-
ting up decorations in the cottages
and all across the campus is made
into a party by the children. The
most fun of all is decorating the
cottage Christmas trees. Each
new day brings added anticipa-
tion of the parties and activities
planned for the month. The
children and staff look forward to
visiting with old friends who visit
with us each Christmas such as
"The Group," the Woodmen of the
World, and Unity Church; and
meeting new friends like those
from Carolina Telephone in
Rocky Mount. Santa Claus will
come to our campus several times
during the month in various
shapes and sizes and on different
modes of transportation. He is
checking his list finding out who
has been naughty and nice.

Wednesday, December 17, will
end our month of anticipation and
suspense as we join in a special
campus- wide vesper service. The
evening will end with the children
going to their respective cottages,
gathering around the Christmas
tree and opening gifts from their
sponsors.

Christmas here we come.

* A Christmas when the birth of Christ and the purpose of His coming are the main
focus instead of religious window dressing for the "real thing" : the advent of Santa
Claus.

* A Christmas when there is joy without depleting savings accounts and facing the
January hang-over of over-extended credit.

* A Christmas when our spirits are renewed instead of increasing our frustration
and shame at being willingly manipulated to consume and waste at levels we know
to be irresponsible.

* A Christmas when our celebrations give expression to the meaning of Christ's
birth as "good news to the poor," instead of an annual rite of "conspicuous consump-
tion' ' that accentuates the gulf between the affluent and the non-affluent, otherwise
known as the "what-did-you-get-for-Christmas?" game.

* A Christmas which is fun and relaxing for all the members of the household, in-
stead of simply being a heavier burden for those who ordinarily manage the
household.

* A Christmas which enhances creative expressions of love instead of following,
lemming-like, the gift admonitions from Madison Avenue.

* A Christmas whose results are greater resources for the justice and peace efforts
of church ministries and other charitable agencies, instead merely of greater profits
for business.

* A Christmas where family get-togethers acknowledge the imperfection of family
relationships and focus on appreciating each other rather than changing each other.

* A Christmas where children use their own unique abilities and interest to make
and do for others, thus experiencing the unparalleled joy of seeing others blessed
through their giving.

* A Christmas which becomes a treasure chest of warm and loving memories for
the generations to come.

CHRISTMAS SPONSORSHIP

Have you finished your shopping yet? Are you sure you haven't
forgotten to include someone special on your shopping list?
Perhaps you didn't know that there are children who aren't on
anyone's list! Christmas sponsorships are so important to our
children, because it is such a tender time when love speaks so
clearly through sharing. Each year, we try to provide one sponsor
for every child in our care. Sponsors may simply send $100 for each
child sponsored, or call our office for a Christmas list for each
child, and purchase the gift for them. Won't you consider adding
one of our special children to your Christmas list? Thank you for
your continued love and support.

December 1986

41

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION

COURSE TAUGHT

"The Art of Christian
Teaching," one of the courses in
the Basic Teacher Training Pro-
gram, was offered in October at
Smithfield Church. The Rev. Alan
Lamm is the pastor.

Eighteen persons took part.
They were: Joyce Brown, Viola
Evans, Barbara Elliott, Mark
Elliott, Luda Hinnant, Louise
Flowers, SG Flowers, Lillie Starl-
ing, Lucille Coates, Laura Lamm,
Janet Gregory, Jimmie Gregory,
Betty Narron, Doris Peedin, Ar-
mie Strickland, Mary Strickland,
Milton Wiggs, and Carla William-
son.

Would you like to have this
course and our other training
courses taught in your church?
Write or call: Bass Mitchell, Field
Secretary, Route 7, Box 471,
Goldsboro, NC 27530; (919)
734-8378.

NEWS FROM
SUNDAY SCHOOLS

This is a new section we will
have each month. It will share
some of the things other Sunday
Schools are doing and the pro-
grams that they are finding effec-
tive.

From St. Paul Church,
Newton Grove

Some good things are happen-
ing there.

They have just formed a Sunday
School Council. It's made up of all
their teachers, officers, and their
pastor. They will be meeting on a
regular basis to oversee their Sun-
day School and make im-
provements. One of the first
things they are considering doing
is starting an attendance recogni-
tion program.

They also have a Sunday School
fellowship breakfast a couple of
times a month. The attendance
has been good at these fellowship
meals.

Their Sunday School has 120 on
roll. It averages about 53 each
Sunday.

St. Paul Church has 6 classes.

The superintendent is George
Warren. The pastor is the Rev.
Felton Godwin.

From Bridgeton Church

John Mitchell, superintendent
of their Sunday School, took part
in the course on Sunday School
work that was held in September
at St. Mary's Church in New Bern.
He did more than just sit and
listen to the ideas shared. He went
back and put them into practice.

One of the things we discussed
in those sessions was starting new
classes. Mr. Mitchell, seeing the
need for a new young married
class in his Sunday School, went to
work. Within a few weeks, he had
a class organized. It already has
ten persons on roll and has great
potential for growth.

"This is something that was
very much needed and we all are
very pleased that it's started,"
said Mr. Mitchell in a recent inter-
view. "It has improved our atten-
dance, our offerings, and we have
even gotten some new choir
members because of this new
class," he went on to say.

The Rev. Ralph Sumner is
pastor of the church.

From Greenville Church

This is one of the fourteen
churches that participated in the
Pitt County Sunday School
Seminars held in early
September. In fact, the seminars
were held there.

I recently called the Rev. Harry
Grubbs, pastor of the church, to
get some idea about the impact
and results of those seminars.

Mr. Grubbs said the response
had been "great." Everyone he
had talked to felt enthused and ex-
cited about those seminars. In-
deed, they want to plan some
more for the spring.

"We have our Sunday School
Council operating again," he said.
"It's meeting on a monthly
basis."

"We've started an attendance
promotion program. Every per-
son who attends at least ten Sun-
days each quarter is recognized.

Those with perfect attendance
receive special recognition . . . our
attendance is slowly but surely
picking up," he said.

I could tell from talking with
him that he was excited and en-
couraged about his Sunday
School.

From Your Sunday School?

What's going on in your Sunday
School? Write or call the Field
Secretary and let him know. He
will see that it's shared with
others. Your Sunday School can
be a source of encouragement to
others!

COMING SOON

The course, "Basic Sunday
School Work," will be taught by
the Field Secretary from
February 16-19, 1987. The four ses-
sions will be held at Smithfield
Church. Each session will be from
7 to 9:15 p.m.

The State Sunday School Con-
vention will convene on March 7,
1987, at Black Jack Church, near
Greenville. The theme is, "A
Growing Sunday School." There
will be workshops for Sunday
School workers with all age
groups, including pastors and
superintendents. They will con-
centrate on practical ways to
reach all ages through the Sunday
School.

Courses, workshops, and
seminars are constantly being
planned. Watch The Free Will
Baptist for dates, times, and
places.

If you would like some training
programs or other workshops
held in your church, call or write
the Field Secretary. He will be
glad to work with you. It's his job!

IDEAS
Inadequacy

There's an article on the op-
posite page. It's entitled, "Over-
coming That Inadequate
Feeling." It deals with a common
problem among Sunday School
teachers. Make a copy of it for all
your teachers. Ask them to read it
and schedule a meeting with them
to discuss it.

42

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

ministry than the feeling of in-
adequacy.

Teaching is a tremendous
responsibility. It's a ministry
that requires the very best we
have. At times it is quite over-
whelming. A sense of inadequacy
is normal. Indeed, it is to be ex-
pected and even desired.

But a sense of inadequacy can
be harmful, especially if it con-
stantly makes the teacher feel
guilty and lowers her self-
esteem. The remainder of the ar-
ticle will deal with overcoming
harmful inadequacy.

(Turn the PAge)

December 1986 43

"I'm not sure I know what I'm
doing or even what to do." "I
feel guilty and frustrated." "I
feel so inadequate."

I have often heard these kinds
of comments from Sunday School
teachers. Many struggle with a
sense of inadequacy. They lack
the healthy self-confidence re-
quired for an effective and satis-
fying teaching ministry.

What can be done about it?
This article offers some practical
solutions.

The Positive Side of Inadequacy

A certain degree of inadequacy
is not necessarily a bad thing. In
fact, it can be helpful.

When a teacher shares her
sense of inadequacy with me, I
sometimes reply, "That's great!
That helps us realize our
dependence upon God. Use that
feeling to stimulate you to
greater prayer, study, and train-
ing."

God help us when we feel so
adequate that we do not have to
pray and look constantly to God
for help. Such an attitude is far
more harmful to the teaching

Training and Study
Build Confidence

Teachers need training in at
least four areas : how to study
the Bible, characteristics of the
age group taught, how to teach,
and what Christians believe.
Teachers should determine in
what areas they need to increase
their knowledge and skills, for
this is a primary cause of that
inadequate feeling.

Many teachers do not know
how to study the Bible. Since
every lesson is based to some
degree on the Scriptures, it's im-
perative that they know what the
Bible is, how it came to us, and
the best tools for studying it.
When teachers know how tp go
about understanding the Bible,
they feel much more confident in
teaching it.

It's important for teachers to
understand the age group they
teach. How do they learn? How
do they develop? What are their
common needs, concerns, prob-
lems, and life tasks? Knowing
the answers to these questions
gives teachers confidence that
they can make the Bible mean-
ingful to those they teach.

Teachers need to know and be
able to use a variety of teaching
methods and activities, especial-
ly those most appropriate for the
age group they teach. Self-
confidence blossoms when
teachers have mastered basic
teaching skills.

Understanding basic Christian
teachings also helps combat that
inadequate feeling. What do we
believe about God? About
Christ? About the Church? In
some way every lesson deals
with Christian theology. When
teachers know what they believe
and why they believe it, then
they can draw upon that
knowledge in teaching. That
fosters confidence.

You can increase your
knowledge and skills in these
areas by participating in
workshops and classes. Also,
there are many excellent

resources in all four areas for
your personal study. Just do
some looking and asking.

Paul and Timothy
Relationships

One of the best ways to train
teachers and to prevent a harm-
ful inadequacy is to use Paul and
Timothy as models. Paul was the
older, more experienced pastor.
He became a pastoral mentor for
Timothy.

Do you have a "Paul" in your
Sunday School? No doubt you
have several. Why not let the
young, inexperienced
"Timothys" work with them for
a year? As these prospective
teachers observe and carry out
teaching activities with ex-
perienced teachers, they will
learn much and gain a healthy
sense of confidence.

You do not have to rely on
teachers. Perhaps your minister
of education, pastor, or other
qualified persons in the church
could assist in this one-on-one
training.

Team Work

One of the ways to prevent and
overcome inadequacy is to
develop a team teaching
ministry. Many teachers seldom
use their assistants. When they
do, it's often only as a substitute.

Planning, teaching, and
evaluating a class with another
person can be a tremendous ex-

perience. It does more than just
share the responsibilities. It
gives you someone with whom to
share your ideas, feelings, and
problems. It means that you are
not alone.

Part of the sense of inade-
quacy teachers experience grows
out of the feeling that they are
all alone. That's scary. But team
ministry overcomes that!

Offer Your Fish and Loaves

Remember the story of the
multiplication of the fish and
loaves? Jesus asked His disciples
to do a great task— feed five
thousand people! All they had to
offer was two fish and five
barley loaves. But they gave it to
Jesus and a miracle took place.
He made a lot out of their little.

When you face those hungry
souls each Sunday, remember
that Jesus can still make a lot
out of a little. Offer all you have,
though it seem only a fish and
piece of bread. Trust it into His
hands and wait for the miracle.
He will take it, multiply it, and
feed them! He's the only one who
really can!

Another way to say this is that
the best way to deal with inade-
quacy is to trust in God's ade-
quacy. Our confidence in
ourselves will grow in proportion
to our confidence in God. "I can
do all things through Christ who
strengthens me." Even teach!

44

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

CAMPUS RELIGIOUS LIFE AT
MOC— AN IMPORTANT DIMENSION

One of the ways Mount Olive College fosters the Christian faith is
through campus religious organizations. These groups add that
"something extra" that may not be found at other colleges. As President
Raper says, "The most important dimension of MOC is its commitment
to the Christian faith."

The Free Will Baptist Fellowship and the Theological Students
Fellowship are two campus organizations that help students grow in
their faith.

Open to all students, the FWB Fellowship provides opportunities for
service and worship through which its members may strengthen their
faith, character and Christian commitment. The Fellowship also helps
students develop leadership abilities. Mrs. Dianne B. Riley, director of
admissions, is the advisor.

The Theological Students Fellowship is an organization of students
preparing for the Christian ministry and church-related vocations. The
main objective of the group is to provide opportunities for personal and
religious development and practical experience for members as they
pursue academic preparation for their work. Their advisor is religion
professor Dr. Michael Pelt.

Attendance at weekly chapel services is required, and students have
a unique opportunity to participate by joining the Chapel Choir. Under
the direction of music professor Irene Patten, the choir's only reason for
existence is to lead the music at the regular Tuesday worship services.

Sunday worship services are held in Rodgers Chapel throughout the
school year. Students are also encouraged to participate in Bible study
groups and in personal and group devotions.

Free Will Baptist Fellowship officers named— Free Will Baptist Fellowship officers for the
1986-87 year have been named at Mount Olive College. The newly elected officers are pic-
tured from left, front row, Jennifer Turnage of Beaufort Church, historian; Linda Brown of
Casey's Chapel Church, publicity; Rhonda Flowers of Unity Church, president; and Shea
Bankston of Hope Mills, publicity. In the back row, Amanda Garris of King's Cross Roads
Church and Miriam Prescott of Raleigh, pianists; Lori Elks of Elm Grove Church, vice presi-
dent; Patti Fulghum of Union Grove Church, secretary; and Donna Bowen of Saints Delight
Church, song leader. Not pictured are Frankie Baggett of Daly's Chapel Church, executive of-
ficer; Carl Hayes of Haymount Church, treasurer; and Debra Whitely of Cardinal Village
Church, publicity. The Free Will Baptist Fellowship is open to all students and meets weekly
(photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

Theological Students' Fellowship Of-
ficers—Dr. Michael Pelt, left, strolls from
Rodgers Chapel with the 1986-87
Theological Students' Fellowship officers.
Pictured from left are Pelt, one of the
Fellowship's advisors; Paul Rigsby of
Pikeville, reporter; Joseph Ard of Pink Hill,
president; and Keith Davis of Deep Run,
vice president. Ard is a member of Christian
Chapel Church and Davis is a member of
Deep Run Church. The Fellowship is an
organization of students preparing for the
Christian ministry and church-related voca-
tions. Not pictured is Maurice Goodall of La
Grange, secretary/treasurer (photo by Patti
O'Donoghue).

WAYNE COUNTY
CHURCHES CONTRIBUTE
$33,534 AT MOC DINNER

Brightly decorated tables filled
the floor of College Hall for the
Wayne County gift support dinner
for Mount Olive College. The table
decorations matched the mood of
the evening when it was an-
nounced that 15 Free Will Baptist
Churches in Wayne County con-
tributed an all-time record of
$33,534— the goal was $21,050.

"This is the best any dinner has
ever done in the history of the Col-
lege," said an elated Jean F.
Ackiss, director of the 17 annual
county dinners.

Four hundred Free Will Bap-
tists and guests enjoyed an
outstanding buffet meal provided
by the College cafeteria. MOC's
Student Government Association
President, Freddie Pierce,
welcomed the guests with his
unique "friend," Richard J.
Waldorf III. The Mount Olive Col-
lege Singers entertained with a
program of patriotic music.

Dr. W. Burkette Raper, presi-
dent of Mount Olive, expressed his
thanks to the churches and to the
host of volunteers who make the
dinners possible. He introduced
Milford Quinn, president of Quinn
(Turn the Page)

December 1986

45

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

Dinner without barbecue— Wilber Shirley, a
member of Goldsboro, First Church, and
owner of Wilber's Barbecue, seems to be
enjoying a meal without barbecue. Shirley
was on campus for the Wayne County din-
ner which was served by the college
cafeteria. Wilber's caters 10 of the 17 an-
nual College dinners (photo by Patti
O'Donoghue).

Wholesale Co. of Warsaw. Quinn's
son, Kim, is a member of the MOC
Singers.

"Mount Olive College means a
lot, not only to Wayne County but
to our entire state," Quinn told the
gathering. "Many students would
not have gotten an education
without this college." He also
commended the College for its
moral and religious emphasis.

Spring Hill Church, with a
membership of 88, led the county
in gifts with a total of $7,650. The
church was presented with two
$100 scholarships, for the largest
amount per capita and the largest
contribution.

Pleasant Grove Church re-
ceived the scholarship for having
the most high school students in
attendance— 14.

Of special note is Stoney Creek
Church which recorded a con-
tribution of $6,202. Other churches
and the amounts of their gifts in-
cluded Antioch, $300; Casey's
Chapel, $1,220; Fremont, $251;
Goldsboro First, $2,410; Grants
Chapel, $300; Indian Springs,
$200; May's Chapel, $1,335; Mount
Olive, $2,778; Northeast, $1,811;
Pleasant Grove, $2,677; Pleasant
Hill, $1,172; Union Grove, $2,877;
and Walnut Creek, $1,250.

Receiving scholarship certificates— Pictured following the Wayne County dinner in College
Hall, from left, are Dr. W. Burkette Raper, president of MOC; Bettie B. Lynch, Wayne County
dinner chairman; church chairmen Borden Howell of Spring Hill, and Mrs. Tempie Jones of
Pleasant Grove Church. Howell received two scholarships for the largest contribution and
largest amount per capita, and Mrs. Jones received a certificate for the most high school
students in attendance (photo courtesy Nelson Bland, MOC TRIBUNE).

Fellowship sponsors retreat— Mount Olive College students prepare to leave campus to at-
tend the spiritual life retreat sponsored by the Free Will Baptist Fellowship. Sixteen
students, fellowship advisor Dianne B. Riley, and dorm director Joyce Andrews traveled to
Camp Vandemere on October 24 for a weekend of recreation, prayer and Bible study. The
Rev. Marvin Waters, pastor of St. Mary's Church in New Bern, gave the opening message on
Friday evening. The retreat's activities followed the theme "Show me thy ways, O LORD;
teach me thy paths" (photo by Patti O'Donoghue).

"MESSIAH"
OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU

The department of music of Mount Olive College will present
two performances of Handel's "Messiah" again this Christmas.
Under the direction of Carolyn M. Knox, the College chorus will be
assisted by volunteers from Mount Olive and the surrounding area.

"Messiah" performances
December 9 (Tuesday) at 8:00 p.m.
December 14 (Sunday) at 4:00 p.m.

Both presentations will be held at the First Baptist Church of
Mount Olive, located at the corner of Chestnut and John Streets.
The chorus will be accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of the
North Carolina Symphony. All friends of the College are invited.
There will be no admission charge or offering.

46

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

Great Expectations (Continued from Page

or that your father— a very dif-
ferent man than you— modeled
certain unachievable behaviors
will help you put your expecta-
tions into perspective.

Some expectations can simply
be scaled down. You may wish for
a $1,000 Christmas bonus.
However, if you are realistic and
understand that $100 is more
reasonable, all things considered,
then $100 becomes a fulfilled
dream when that is what you get,
instead of a booby prize. The
young man who cannot spend the
holidays with his family might
formulate a plan whereby he
could spend Christmas with his
sister and her family, reckoning
them to be the nearest things he
has to a happy, loving family.

Some realities are not subject to
our influence. Few of us are in a
position to bring peace on earth; a
single mother on welfare will not
be able to buy the gifts she wants
to give her children; we can't
make people send us Christmas
cards ; the special people we want
to see may be overseas ....

3)

When the facts are beyond our
control, we can consider the sec-
ond means of resolution: we can
revise reality. We can say, "As
much as I want it, there will not be
true peace on earth until the
Kingdom of God arrives" ; "I can-
not afford to lavish expensive
gifts upon those I love"; and so
on.

But many realities— more than
you might think— are ours to
change. Some can be dealt with
absolutely and completely. If a
white Christmas is vitally impor-
tant to you, if you have the money,
you can spend Christmas in Ver-
mont (check the weather reports,
though, before going!). It will
take a considerable investment of
time, energy, and money; but it
can be done. If you want to lavish
gifts on those you love, work
toward that end all year
long— don't begin on December
24th!

Yes, our dreams can become a
reality. How then, does Christ
become the center of our
Christmas celebration? We must

ill!

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST RETIREMENT HOMES BOARD recently pur-
chased another home in Ayden, North Carolina. This community-based
retirement facility is located a few houses down the street from the pro-
gram's other Ayden facility, on Lee Street. Renovations are being made to
turn the home into a duplex apartment. The Rev. Walter Sutton, director of
the program, looks for all the work to be completed this year, making it
available for residency the first of 1987.

Individuals interested in retiring in Ayden and using one of the apart-
ments is encouraged to contact Mr. Sutton. (Phone 919/746-4963.)

want Him to be. We must work
and plan toward that end. We
must not let other things which
might prevent our holiday from
being a holy day do just that.

My Christmas wish? That
Christmas might truly be a
celebration of God's love and joy
this year.

And it will be, if I let it be!

CALENDAR INSIDE

When examining this issue of The Free
Will Baptist, you may have been surprised
to find a calendar in the center of the
publication. This calendar has been pro-
vided for your convenience by the Free Will
Baptist Press. The calendar has a daily Bi-
ble reading entry which, if followed, will
assist you in reading through the Bible in a
year. You will also find dates of denomina-
tional activities on the calendar. (All the
conference, enterprise and organizational
leaders were contacted and many supplied
us with the dates of their 1987 activities. We
extend our appreciation to those who
helped us in our efforts of the compilation
of dates.)

To use the calendar, you can merely hang
it as it is, or you can remove the outside
pages of the publication.

In order to provide you with the calendar
we had to omit some of our regular monthly
features. We ask for your understanding in
this matter.

Janie Jones Sowers
Editor

PLEASE NOTE

The Free Will Baptist Press has several
copies of The Free Will Baptist Hymnal in
loose-leaf form. They are available for $5
each and can be purchased from the Press
in Ayden.

The 1987 Woman's Auxiliary DEVOTION
is ready for purchasing.

MINISTERS AVAILABLE

The Rev. C. L. Patrick announces that he
will be available for pastoral and
evangelistic work in 1987. He may be con-
tacted by writing to him at Route 1, Box
A-22, Snow Hill, NC 28580; or by phoning
747-8877.

The Rev. Michael G. Warning, a bi-
vocational minister, is seeking a pastorate.
Mr. Warning currently teaches at Mount
Olive College and is a member of the
Eastern Conference. Anyone interested in
his services can contact him by writing to
him at Box 326, Mount Olive, NC 28365. He
can be reached at night by phoning
658-2502.

December 1986

47

|CoUe m gour fyeart put* tlje spirit of

(Efyrtstma* m % atr. ^ag gmtr* be a

jogtnig tfoltbag season.

— ®lje Management anb j^taff of tlje
I'm Pill ^apttst $ res*

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST

DATE DUE

DEMCO 38-297

Div.S. q286.205 F853 W689x

v.101 1986

The Free Will Baptist

For Reference

Not to be taken from this room